BALTIMORE, MD—A federal grand jury in Maryland on Tuesday returned an indictment charging Sarah Beth Clendaniel, 34, of Catonsville, and Brandon Clint Russell, 27, of Orlando, Florida, with conspiracy to destroy an energy facility.
The defendants have been detained since their arrest on February 3, 2023, on related charges.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
The single-count indictment alleges that Russell and Clendaniel conspired to willfully damage the property of an energy facility, causing damage exceeding $100,000 and causing a significant interruption and impairment of a function of the facility.
Clendaniel was allegedly recorded telling an FBI informant of her plans to attack energy substations in Norrisville, Reisterstown, and Perry Hall.
If convicted, Russell and Clendaniel each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to damage an energy facility.
