Cops have thwarted a sinister plot concocted by an 18-year-old New Jersey man to annihilate PSE&G substations, impacting the power grid.
Andrew Takhistov began communicating online with an undercover officer in January, according to federal investigators. The East Brunswick man is accused of “soliciting another individual to destroy energy facilities” in North Brunswick and New Brunswick “in order to advance his white supremacist ideology.”
Investigators allege Takhistov had asked the undercover officer online for advice on weapons and expressed an interest in traveling overseas for paramilitary-style training.
Over the course of a seven-month period, Takhistov outlined his plans to sabotage PSE&G’s electrical infrastructure, according to authorities.
He also encouraged violence against different ethnic and religious communities, referenced Adolf Hitler and praised mass shooters, investigators allege.
Takhistov was arrested Wednesday at Newark Liberty International Airport, “allegedly on his way to Ukraine to join the Russian Volunteer Corps when we arrested him on charges of recruiting an individual to destroy an electrical substation here in the United States in order to advance his white supremacist ideology,” US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said.
“I am grateful to the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force for their exceptional work disrupting this dangerous plot.”
Takhistov allegedly took the undercover employee to the two electrical substations on two separate occasions in June and July, and discussed how to conduct an attack on an electrical substation.
He also asked the cop to take photos of the substations, indicating he wanted to send them to a friend in Russia.
“We allege Takhistov, who is only 18 years old, planned to travel overseas so he could learn lessons from Russians fighting in Ukraine on how to destroy power grids and other critical infrastructure. His alleged conversations and planned actions are chilling and were inspired by racially motivated violent extremism,” said FBI – Newark Special Agent-in-Charge James E. Dennehy.
Takhistov is charged with soliciting another individual to engage in criminal conduct.
He remains in police custody after appearing in court Friday. Plea information was unavailable.
If found guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $125,000 fine.
