William Curry Brown, Railroad Sabotage, Pennsylvania 2017

Railroad Sabotage Rocks Pennsylvania

A devastating case of railroad sabotage has left authorities scrambling to uncover the truth. William Curry Brown, 26, of Elizabeth, Pa., has pleaded guilty to two counts of terroristic attacks and violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation on land, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§1992(a)(5) and (a)(10) and 2.

The charges stem from a brazen attack on November 1, 2017, in which Brown deliberately sabotaged railroad signal operations near Braddock and McKeesport. At the first location, Brown unscrewed four railroad signal antennas, while at the second, he used bolt cutters to sever multiple bond strand signal wires. The sheer audacity of the attack left officials stunned, and the financial loss incurred by the railroad system was significant.

The damage caused by Brown's actions not only put the lives of passengers and freight car operators at risk but also crippled the railroad system, resulting in substantial financial losses. The offense was classified as a reckless endangerment of the mass transportation facility.

Assistant United States Attorney Christopher M. Cook is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the CSX Transportation Police conducted the investigation leading to the indictment.

As part of his plea deal, Judge Donetta W. Ambrose set sentencing for May 11th, 2020, at 11 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of not more than three years. The actual sentence imposed would be based on the seriousness of the offense(s) and Brown's prior criminal history, if any.

Brown's actions have sparked widespread outrage and concern for public safety. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and cooperation among law enforcement agencies to prevent such heinous crimes.

As we await the outcome of the sentencing, one thing is clear: the people of Pennsylvania will not tolerate such reckless behavior. The pursuit of justice will continue, and those responsible will be held accountable.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/elizabeth-pa-man-pleads-guilty-sabotaging-railroad-signal-operations