A San Jose man was sentenced to 10 years in federal jail for bombing PG&E electrical transformers in San Jose on two events in 2022 and 2023, prosecutors stated.
Peter Karasev, 39, pleaded responsible to 2 counts of willfully destroying vitality amenities in April for the incidents, admitting that he had used explosive gadgets he made himself to break the amenities and spark widespread blackouts within the surrounding areas, in line with a press launch from the USA Division of Justice. He additionally admitted that the plans had been deliberate and premeditated.
Peter Karasev, 36, of San Jose, has been arrested in reference to a San Jose Police Division investigation into suspected explosives-related and unlawful drug offenses, authorities stated. (San Jose Police Dept.)
“Karasev’s attacks on critical infrastructure were direct threats to public safety and national security,” Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Lawyer for the Northern District of California, stated in a press release. “He aimed to inflict widespread disruption and harm, but we remain steadfast in our commitment to holding accountable those who threaten the safety and well-being of the residents of San Jose. We and our law enforcement partners will leverage every available resource to ensure that violent extremists like the defendant face the full force of justice.”
U.S. District Choose Beth Labson Freeman additionally sentenced Karasev to 3 years of supervised launch, authorities stated. He was ordered to pay $214,880.67 in restitution and $200 in particular evaluation.
The 2 assaults triggered greater than $200,000 in harm to companies and triggered outages to greater than 1,500 homes within the metropolis, authorities stated. Fifteen of the impacted households had been a part of PG&E’s Medical Baseline Program, which suggests they required energy to run life-saving medical tools.
“Karasev’s specialized knowledge in explosives, the vast quantity of bombmaking materials discovered in his home, and his readiness to deploy both against our Nation’s energy infrastructure made him a very dangerous individual who posed a significant risk to public safety,” Assistant Lawyer Normal for Nationwide Safety John A. Eisenberg stated in a press release. “The National Security Division is committed to prosecuting attacks on critical infrastructure to the fullest extent of the law.”
Previous to the bombings, Karasev had carried out “extensive” web searches on geopolitical conflicts, assaults on infrastructure and explosives, authorities stated.
“This defendant admitted to attacking critical infrastructure which could have harmed people in the San Jose, California community and he will now face the consequences of his actions,” Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division stated in a press release. “This individual conducted research and prepared homemade explosives which knocked out power to multiple homes and caused more than $200,000 in property damage to local businesses. The FBI will work with our partners to identify and hold accountable those who engage in such dangerous and illegal acts.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Lawyer Anne C. Hsieh with help from the Nationwide Safety Division’s Counterterrorism Part, authorities stated. It was investigated by the FBI and the San Jose Police Division.
Karasev was remanded into custody after his listening to to start serving his sentence, authorities added.
