Cameron Smith, a 50-year-old Canadian national, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for orchestrating attacks on critical energy facilities in the United States.
Smith’s actions, which targeted an oil pipeline in South Dakota and an electrical substation in North Dakota, resulted in $1.7 million in damages and significant disruptions to essential services.
Smith pleaded guilty last September to two separate counts of destruction of an energy facility.
According to court documents, Smith admitted to attacking the Wheelock Substation near Ray, North Dakota, in May 2023, resulting in damages exceeding $100,000.
This facility, essential to the region’s electrical supply, is operated by Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative and Basin Electric Power Cooperative.
Additionally, Smith acknowledged his role in damaging crucial equipment at the Keystone Pipeline pump station near Carpenter, South Dakota, in July 2022.
Using a high-powered rifle, Smith inflicted significant damage to both a transformer and pipeline equipment, resulting in widespread disruption of electrical services and interrupting pipeline operations—an incident also involving damages surpassing $100,000.
Prosecutors successfully argued that Smith’s actions met the definition of terrorism by attempting to intimidate or coerce a civilian population.
U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor imposed consecutive sentences of 12.5 years for each offense.
More from far-left AP:
Cameron Smith, 50, was also ordered Monday to pay more than $2.1 million in restitution, the Bismarck Tribune reported, as well as fines totaling $250,000. He faces deportation after his release.
[…]
Prosecutor David Hagler said the higher sentence was justified because Smith’s actions met the definition of terrorism by “attempting to intimidate or coerce a civilian population.”
Defense attorney Douglas Passon argued against the longer sentence, describing Smith as a “hyper-aware individual wanting to create awareness about climate change” who intentionally avoided harming anyone.
[…]
Smith told the court his actions were driven by frustration after years of trying to raise awareness of climate change through lawful means. He said he chose remote locations to avoid harming people, and he argued for a lesser sentence, citing his autism and Crohn’s disease.
“This is tantamount to a life sentence, and I don’t think that’s right,” Smith said. He expressed doubt he would receive adequate medical care while incarcerated.
“I won’t survive this,” Smith said.
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