The founder of a neo-Nazi group has been convicted of charges after authorities said he and a woman he met in prison planned a series of “sniper attacks” on electrical substations, hoping to ignite a "race war."
Brandon Russell, 29, of Orlando, Florida, was convicted of conspiracy to damage an energy facility in a Baltimore federal court, the Baltimore Banner reported. Jurors deliberated for less than an hour.
Russell founded the Atomwaffen Division. Prosecutors said he tried to help his then girlfriend Sarah Beth Clendaniel buy a rifle to carry out the attack and helped her plan what targets to hit.
Clendaniel, 36, of Catonsville, is serving an 18-year prison sentence after she pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to damage an energy facility and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
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Russell and Sarah Clendaniel schemed to shoot up five substations that serve the Baltimore area in hopes they "would completely destroy this whole city."
“If we can pull off what I’m hoping, this would be legendary, Cledaniel told a federal informant.
During opening arguments, prosecutor Michael Aubin said Russell "was at war."
"He was at war for his race, the white race," said Aubin.
Prosecutors acknowledged that while Russell didn't plan to travel to Maryland to carry out the attack, he was integral to planning it.
“The defendant is directing traffic,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Baldwin. “He’s assisting in the conspiracy.”
