Anthony Clark, Data Center Bomb Plot, Texas 2024

Related Federal Cases

Anthony Clark Convicted in $16M FIFA Coin Heist · Texas
Julian Assange Charged in 18-Count Espionage Indictment · Texas
McMillion Arrested · Texas
Symplicity Chief Pleads Guilty to Hacking Competitors · Texas
Pakistani Man Indicted for Selling Spyware App · Texas

Table of Contents

Texas Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Plotting to Blow Up Data Center

A Texas man who plotted to blow up a data center in Virginia has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Seth Aaron Pendley, 28, was arrested in April after attempting to obtain an explosive device from an undercover FBI employee in Fort Worth. He pleaded guilty in June to malicious attempt to destroy a building with an explosive and was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor.

According to court documents, Mr. Pendley disclosed his plan to blow up an Amazon data center to a confidential source in January. He later sent the source a list of potential targets and said he hoped a successful attack could “kill off about 70% of the internet.” When the source offered to help him obtain C4 explosives to use in the attack, Mr. Pendley responded enthusiastically.

Mr. Pendley allegedly told the undercover FBI employee that he planned to attack web servers that he believed provided services to the FBI, CIA, and other federal agencies. “The main objective is to f*** up the Amazon servers,” he said, adding that he hoped to anger “the oligarchy” enough to provoke a reaction that would convince the American people to take action against what he perceived to be a “dictatorship.”

During a subsequent conversation, Mr. Pendley claimed to have been present at the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He said that although he did not enter the building, he came prepared with a sawed off AR rifle, which he left in his car.

On April 8, Mr. Pendley again met with the undercover FBI employee to pick up what he believed to be explosive devices. After the employee showed Mr. Pendley how to arm and detonate the devices, the defendant loaded them into his car. He was then arrested.

A subsequent search of his residence in Wichita Falls turned up an AR-15 receiver with a sawed off barrel, a pistol painted to look like a toy gun, masks, wigs, notes, and flashcards related to the planned attack.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Prerak Shah praised the FBI employee who put his life on the line to disrupt Mr. Pendley’s plot before he could inflict real harm on data center workers. “We are indebted to the FBI employee who put his life on the line,” said Mr. Shah. “We are proud of today’s sentence.”