Sarah Beth Clendaniel, a 36-year-old white supremacist from Catonsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty on May 14, 2024, to conspiring to destroy power grid facilities in the Baltimore area. She aimed to facilitate societal collapse by damaging multiple substations, a plan she developed in coordination with Brandon C. Russell from Florida, a fellow believer in the ideology of "accelerationism."
Clendaniel and Russell met in 2018 while serving time in separate prisons. From December 2022 to February 2023, they plotted to attack electrical substations in Norrisville, Reisterstown, and Perry Hall. Law enforcement discovered several firearms and ammunition at Clendaniel’s residence, despite her status as a convicted felon.
Russell, who faces similar conspiracy charges, is awaiting trial. Clendaniel's sentencing is scheduled for September 3, 2024, and she faces up to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge and an additional 15 years for illegal firearm possession.