NashvilleTennessee – A 24-year-old man with a connection to a white nationalist pleaded guilty Tuesday to accusing him of trying to bomb a power substation in Nashville using a drone, prosecutors said.
Skyler PhilippiThe Central Tennessee Attorney’s Office in Columbia, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to the weapons that attempted to use weapons of mass destruction and attempted to destroy energy facilities, the Central Tennessee Attorney’s Office said in a statement. He faces life in prison during his January 8 sentence.
“For several months, Philip Plans that he hopes for a devastating attack Nashville’s Energy infrastructure. He obtained what he believed was an explosive, monitored the target, and equipped a drone to attack the power generation substation. Motivated by violent ideology, Philippi wanted to “do something big.” Instead, the FBI undermined his plan and Philippi is now awaiting a verdict. “National Security Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg said in a statement.
Philippi’s lawyer R. David Baker did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
FBI agents wrote in a criminal complaint that Philippi told a confidential FBI source in July 2024 that he wanted to attack several power substations “shocking systems.” The source later introduced Philip to an undercover FBI employee who began collecting information about the Philippi’s plan with other undercover agents.
In November 2024, Philippi and an undercover employee drove to his intentions Nashville The launch site and is ready to fly the drone that authorities say the Philippines believes has 3 pounds (1.4 kg) of C-4 plastic explosives. The material has been provided by undercover staff, prosecutors said.
When he was arrested, Philip Prosecutors said if the secret employee pretended to be his surveillance, the drone was powered and prepared to secure the armed explosive device to it.
Philippi allegedly told undercover officials that he was affiliated with several white nationalist and extremist groups, including the National Alliance, which called for the elimination of Jews and other populations. Such extremist groups increasingly view attacking the U.S. power grid as a means of undermining the country.
The Philippines pleaded not guilty in January. In a letter to the judge in March, the Philippines claimed that undercover FBI agents violated his due process rights and his public defender provided invalid attorneys.
