Skyler Philippi, a 24-year-old resident of Columbia, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to charges related to attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and trying to destroy an energy facility in Nashville. The plea was entered in federal court on September 9, 2025.
Federal officials said Philippi spent months planning the attack. According to Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, “For months, Philippi planned what he had hoped would be a devastating attack on Nashville’s energy infrastructure. He acquired what he believed to be explosives, surveilled his target, and equipped a drone to attack an electrical substation. Motivated by a violent ideology, Philippi wanted ‘to do something big.’ Instead, the FBI disrupted his plans, and Philippi now awaits sentencing,” Eisenberg stated. “The National Security Division and the FBI will continue to protect our Nation’s critical infrastructure from would-be saboteurs.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee also commented on the case: “Our office is fully committed to thwarting dangerous attacks motivated by hate,” McGuire said. “I commend the agents who investigated this conduct and stopped this attack from victimizing our community. I commend the prosecutors who held the defendant accountable for his terrible actions.”
Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division highlighted the potential consequences if Philippi's plan had succeeded: “Skyler Philippi planned to attack an energy facility with a drone containing explosives, which had the potential to knock out power to thousands of American homes and to critical facilities like hospitals,” Holstead said. “Through rigorous investigation, his plan was disrupted. Protecting our communities from threats to public safety is a priority for the FBI, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who attempt to damage critical infrastructure and threaten our national security.”
Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office noted that Philippi admitted in court that he conducted extensive research into explosive devices and possible targets as part of his efforts: “As he admitted in federal court today, in furtherance of his ideological beliefs, Skyler Philippi conducted extensive research into explosive devices and potential targets to launch an attack against critical infrastructure,” Carrico said. “The FBI is committed to doing everything in our ability to detect, disrupt, and deter attacks by domestic violent extremists. It is thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the FBI Nashville Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, and law enforcement partners that Philippi’s plot was detected and stopped.”
Court documents revealed that beginning in June 2024 through November 2024, Philippi discussed plans with confidential sources about attacking various sites including YMCA facilities near Columbia as well as targeting electric substations using drones equipped with high-energy explosives such as TATP or C-4 instead of firearms after researching previous incidents involving substations.
Philippi also expressed extremist views during these discussions; at one point telling undercover employees about writing a manifesto detailing intentions against certain cities or industrial areas due their economic impact—he referenced past associations with Atomwaffen Division and National Alliance.
By September 2024 he performed reconnaissance at specific substations around Nashville before acquiring materials needed for pipe bombs—including plastic explosives ordered from undercover agents—and described how attacks could cause widespread disruption across major metropolitan areas.
On November 2nd last year when meeting undercover agents at a hotel before driving together toward their intended target site outside Nashville—a drone powered up nearby—Philippi participated in rituals referencing Norse mythology before being arrested by law enforcement officers as he prepared final steps for launching his device.
Sentencing has been scheduled for January 8th next year where he faces up-to-life imprisonment plus up-to $250K fine; ultimate sentencing will be determined by federal district judge following statutory guidelines.
The case remains under investigation by the FBI Nashville Field Office. Prosecutors include Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Kurtzman (Middle District TN) along with Trial Attorneys Justin Sher & James Donnelly (National Security Division Counterterrorism Section).
