2 plead guilty to vandalizing Washington power substations, leaving thousands without power on Christmas Day

Two Men Admit to Vandalizing Power Substations, Leaving Thousands Without Power on Christmas Day

Guilty Pleas in Washington State Power Sabotage

In an unsettling turn of events, two men have confessed to wreaking havoc on power substations in Washington state, causing widespread power outages on a day as special as Christmas. Jeremy Crahan, hailing from Puyallup, made his admission before the U.S. District Court in Tacoma. He disclosed that he and his partner-in-crime, Matthew Greenwood, conspired to disrupt electrical power with the intention of breaking into ATMs and businesses to make off with cash, as revealed by Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman in an official statement.

According to their plea agreement, the mischievous duo, aged 40 and 32, respectively, inflicted damage on four power substations on December 25, 2022. The targeted substations included those operated by Tacoma Power, namely Graham and Elk Plain, as well as Puget Sound Energy’s Kapowsin and Hemlock substations.

In all four instances, these culprits forcefully gained entry into fenced areas enclosing the substations and tampered with equipment, deliberately plunging the area into darkness.

Jeremy Crahan, acknowledging his role, confessed to assisting in planning the criminal escapade and mainly acting as a lookout during the operation. Their audacious plan didn’t end there, as they considered toppling trees to disrupt power and facilitate burglary and ATM theft. Fortunately, law enforcement intervened in late December, thwarting this sinister plot.

Greenwood, also hailing from Puyallup, had earlier pleaded guilty in April to conspiring to destroy energy facilities. Following his arrest, he opted for substance abuse treatment.

Both offenders now face the grim possibility of up to two decades behind bars.

This incident highlights the urgent need for enhanced security measures within the U.S. power grid to prevent acts of domestic terrorism. Memories of a prolonged power outage in North Carolina last year, which took days to resolve, serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that need addressing.