Canadian Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Attacks on U.S. Energy Infrastructure
Cameron Monte Smith admitted to damaging energy facilities in North and South Dakota, causing significant disruptions and over $2 million in damages.
- Cameron Monte Smith, a 50-year-old Canadian citizen, was sentenced to 25 years in U.S. federal prison for targeting critical energy infrastructure in North and South Dakota.
- Smith pleaded guilty in September 2024 to using a high-powered rifle to damage the Wheelock Substation in North Dakota in 2023 and a Keystone Pipeline transformer and pump station in South Dakota in 2022.
- The attacks caused significant disruptions, including power outages in North Dakota and operational interruptions for the Keystone Pipeline in South Dakota, with damages exceeding $100,000 for each incident.
- In addition to his prison sentence, Smith was ordered to pay $2.1 million in restitution and will face three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.
- The case was investigated by multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, with the Department of Justice emphasizing its commitment to protecting critical infrastructure from such attacks.