04/22/2023

Ohio Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Plot to Attack U.S. Power Grids

The domestic terrorism plot was in furtherance of white supremacy

Two men were sentenced in federal court today to crimes related to a scheme to attack power grids in the United States in furtherance white supremacy. Christopher Brenner Cook, 20, of Columbus, Ohio, and Jonathan Allen Frost, 24, of Katy, Texas, and West Lafayette, Indiana, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. Cook was sentenced was sentenced to 92 months in prison; Frost was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Jackson Matthew Sawall, 22, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was also charged and pleaded guilty in February 2022 in connection with the scheme and will be sentenced at a later date.

"These defendants plotted armed attacks against energy facilities to stoke division in furtherance of white supremacist ideology and now they are being held accountable," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. "The Justice Department will not tolerate the use of violence to advance any extremist ideology and we remain determined to protect our communities from such hateful acts of terror."

"At the root of every terrorist plot – whether foreign or domestic – is hate," said U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. "As a society, we must be vigilant against online radicalization, which is a powerful tool used by extremists to recruit both juveniles and adults."

Please select this link to read the complete press release from the United States Department of Justice.