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Press Release
Press Release
Tacoma – A 32-year-old Puyallup, Washington man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to Conspiracy to destroy energy facilities, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Matthew Greenwood admits in his plea agreement that he and co-defendant Jeremy Crahan, 40, vandalized four power substations and plotted to fell trees to take out power lines. Both men were arrested before the tree plan was put into action. Greenwood faces up to twenty years in prison when sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo on July 21, 2023.
According to the facts in the plea agreement, Greenwood and Crahan hatched the scheme to disrupt power so they could break into ATMs and businesses and steal money. On December 25, 2022, they damaged four substations:
Following the December 25, 2022, substation vandalism, the men spent time looking for additional ways to cause power outages by felling trees. The goal was to cut power so that they could burglarize businesses and steal from ATMs. Law enforcement arrested them before they could put the tree plan into action.
Prosecutors have agreed to recommend the low end of the guidelines range when Greenwood is sentenced. Since his arrest, Greenwood has been in intensive drug treatment while awaiting resolution in this case.
Co-defendant Jeremy Crahan remains charged with conspiracy to attack energy facilities.
The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Tacoma Police Department, the Washington State Department of Corrections, and the Federal Protective Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.
Press contact for the U.S. Attorney’s Office is Communications Director Emily Langlie at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@usdoj.gov.