Florida man sentenced to 20 years for conspiring to destroy Baltimore region power grid

BALTIMORE, MD—A Florida man was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring to destroy power substations in the Baltimore area. Brandon Clint Russell, 30, of Orlando, was given the sentence by Senior U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar, who also ordered a lifetime of supervised release. Russell’s co-conspirator, Sarah Beth Clendaniel, 37, of Catonsville, Maryland, was previously […]

High-ranking MS-13 leader arrested in Maryland

BALTIMORE, MD—A high-ranking leader in the MS-13 transnational terrorist organization was arrested in Hyattsville, Maryland last month, according to authorities. David Alejandro Orellana-Aleman, 27, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the FBI on February 27, 2025. He is charged in his home country with possession of firearm, extortion, and terrorist affiliation, ICE said in a press […]

Florida man convicted in plot to blow up Maryland substations

UPDATE: Brandon Russell has been sentenced to twenty years in prison. Original story below… BALTIMORE, MD—A Florida man has been found guilty of plotting to blow up substations in Maryland, prosecutors said this week. A federal jury on Monday found Brandon Russell, 29, of Orlando, Florida, guilty of conspiracy to damage an energy facility on Monday after a six-day trial, […]

Baltimore County woman sentenced to 18 years for power grid plot

UPDATE: Brandon Russell, the Florida man with whom Sarah Beth Clendaniel conspired, has been convicted. Original story below… BALTIMORE, MD—A Baltimore County woman received 18 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy to damage or destroy electrical facilities in Maryland. On September 25, 2024, Senior United States District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Sarah Beth Clendaniel, of […]

Federal indictment returned charging Baltimore County woman, Florida man for plotting to attack Baltimore power grid, including Perry Hall substation

UPDATE 2: Brandon Russell has been sentenced to twenty years in prison. UPDATE: Sarah Beth Clendaniel has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. Original story below… 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 […]

Two arrested in plot to attack Baltimore’s power grid, including Perry Hall substation

UPDATE 2: Russell and Clendaniel have both been indicted. UPDATE: This story has been updated with a statement from BGE and Exelon. Original story below… —— BALTIMORE, MD—Two people have been arrested after authorities said they planned to carry out an attack on Baltimore’s power grid. Federal authorities on Monday announced that the FBI had captured two suspects before they […]

Maryland Department of Emergency Management receives $693,000 grant to help partners prevent targeted violence, terrorism

REISTERSTOWN, MD—The Maryland Department of Emergency Management has received a Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grant of $693,000 to help community partners build capacity to keep Marylanders safe. The grant will cover activities from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2024. “The TVTP grant provides the funding that will improve our understanding of targeted violence aimed at public spaces where […]

Governor Hogan calls on Senators Cardin, Van Hollen to support Global War on Terrorism Memorial on the National Mall

ANNAPOLIS, MD—As the nation prepares to honor Veterans Day, Governor Larry Hogan this week urged U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen to support bipartisan legislation to authorize the construction of a Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial on the National Mall. A majority of U.S. Senators—including more than a dozen Senate Democrats—have agreed to co-sponsor this legislation. “Since […]