Cameron Monte Smith, a 50-year-old Canadian citizen, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his involvement in the destruction of energy facilities in North and South Dakota. Smith received a 150-month sentence per count, which will be served consecutively, for two counts of destroying an energy facility. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay $2.1 million in restitution.
Court documents reveal that Smith pleaded guilty on September 11, 2024, to damaging the Wheelock Substation near Ray, North Dakota, in May 2023. The damage exceeded $100,000 and affected operations at Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative and Basin Electric Power Cooperative.
Smith also admitted to causing over $100,000 worth of damage to a transformer and pump station at the Keystone Pipeline near Carpenter, South Dakota, in July 2022. He fired multiple rounds from a high-power rifle into the equipment, disrupting electric services for North Dakota customers and impacting the Keystone Pipeline operations in South Dakota.
The announcement was made by Sue Bai from the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl for the District of North Dakota; U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota; and Assistant Director David J. Scott of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division.
The FBI led the investigation with assistance from several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Williams County (North Dakota) Sheriff’s Office; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; Clark County (South Dakota) Sheriff’s Department; and Beadle County (South Dakota) Sheriff’s Department.
Prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David D. Hagler and Jonathan J. O’Konek for the District of South Dakota; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Jehangiri for the District of North Dakota; along with Trial Attorneys Jacob Warren and Justin Sher from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.