Three men from RI, NC, and ID were found guilty of plotting to destroy energy facilities and given prison terms

In a shocking case, three men were given prison sentences for their part in a racist plan to attack the U.S. power grid. Liam Collins, 25, of Johnston, Rhode Island, was given 10 years for helping to move illegal firearms. Paul Kryscuk, 38, of Boise, Idaho, was given six and a half years for conspiracy. Justin Hermanson, 25, of Swansboro, North Carolina, got 21 months in prison for planning to make and ship guns.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said, “As part of a self-described “modern-day SS,” these defendants planned, trained, and conspired to attack America’s power grid to further their violent white supremacist ideology.” “These sentences show how evil their plan was and how committed the Justice Department is to holding those responsible who try to use violence to weaken our democracy.”

Court documents showed that the group carefully copied the methods used in a previous attack on the power grid.

Over several years, Kryscuk made guns, Collins bought military gear, and co-defendant Jordan Duncan gathered a lot of information about guns and explosives. Kryscuk was found with a handwritten list of possible targets, which included power grid equipment.

More research showed that the group was linked to the “Iron March” site, which is known for being a place where neo-Nazis can meet and join. The men grew their network by using this tool to do live-fire training exercises and find new members.

Upsetting propaganda vids came out showing the men with assault rifles and Nazi salutes.

The case, which was worked on by several federal agencies together, shows how important it is to be alert and move quickly when dealing with extremist threats. People who want to cause trouble and fear in the name of hate should take these words very seriously.