Catonsville Woman Pleads Guilty to Power Grid Conspiracy

In a shocking turn of events, Grimy Times has learned that Sarah Beth Clendaniel, a 32-year-old resident of Catonsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiring to damage or destroy electrical facilities in Maryland. This disturbing case highlights the growing threat of domestic terrorism in our nation.

According to court documents, Clendaniel conspired with Brandon C. Russell, a Florida resident, to damage energy facilities involved in the transmission and distribution of electricity and to cause a significant interruption and impairment of the Baltimore regional power grid. The two individuals espouse a white supremacist ideology and advocate a concept known as “accelerationism,” which involves using violent action to precipitate societal and government collapse.

Clendaniel, a felon, spent months plotting and planning with Russell to inflict grave damage on Maryland’s power grid. The FBI, in partnership with the community, was able to uncover their plans and prevent a potentially catastrophic attack. “Ms. Clendaniel’s hate-fueled plans to destroy the Baltimore region power grid threatened thousands of innocent lives,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron. “But, when law enforcement and the communities we serve are united in partnership, hate cannot win.”

As part of her guilty plea, Clendaniel admitted to communicating and planning with Russell over encrypted communication applications to carry out attacks against energy facilities. The plans began to culminate on January 12, 2023, when Clendaniel, using the moniker “Nythra88,” sent a message to a confidential human source confirming her support of the attack.

The FBI, led by Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, has promised to continue investigating violent threats and holding individuals accountable for their actions. This guilty plea highlights the importance of community partnership and the commitment to keeping our nation safe from domestic terrorism.

Clendaniel faces charges of conspiring to damage or destroy electrical facilities in Maryland, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1366(a), and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Her sentencing is scheduled to take place at a later date.