The neo-Nazi who plotted to terrorize Baltimore by way of disrupting a power grid has finally faced a grand jury. The evidence of his white supremacist scheme led to a verdict in just 45 minutes.
Brandon Russell, 29, stood before a jury this month on charges related to a racist scheme he began putting together nearly a decade ago. Prosecutors say Russell, while incarcerated years ago, began contacting Sarah Clendaniel - who was also locked up. The two became penpals and then developed a romantic relationship which continued after the two were released, per The Washington Post.
The two would later go from a couple to co-defendants after police discovered they were planning to target power transformers. Russell’s online evidence of his affiliation to neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division as well as a document finely detailing a plot to take out the transformers were revealed during trial, the report says.
Russell is also reported to have contacted a government informant in December of 2022 where he gestured to having someone in Maryland who would help execute the plan, prosecutors said. Russell was also accused of anticipating striking during the winter when most people would be using their electricity. Prosecutors claimed Russell was going to be the designated driver in the attack and Clendaniel was going to shoot down the power structures with a sniper.
Now, why would someone want to shut down a predominantly Black city’s power grid? Well, prosecutors say Russell and Clendaniel both planned to cause civil unrest or “urban chaos” and ultimately, spark a race war of the sorts - you know, the way all the other racist power grid schemes sound.
Russell and Clendaniel were arrested in February of 2023 before they had a chance to get motion on their schemes. Though, police weren’t originally looking for him, the AP reports. They confronted him about a shooting that happened at his apartment. However, when investigators went to snoop his property, they found explosives and neo-Nazi gear which prompted the action.
Russell and Clendaniel were charged with conspiracy to damage an energy facility. Russell was found guilty Monday of the charge after just 45 minutes of jury deliberation. His partner previously pleaded guilty to plotting the attack and was sentenced to 18 years in prison, the report says.