San Jose man sentenced to 10 years for two electric transformer bombings

"Peter Karasev, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of willfully destroying energy facilities in April for the incidents, admitting that he had used explosive devices he made himself to damage the facilities and spark widespread blackouts in the surrounding areas, according to a press release from the United States Department of Justice. He also admitted that the plans were deliberate and premeditated."

"Karasev's attacks on critical infrastructure were direct threats to public safety and national security, Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, said in a statement. 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 Judge Beth Labson Freeman also sentenced Karasev to three years of supervised release, authorities said. He was ordered to pay $214,880.67 in restitution and $200 in special assessment. The two attacks caused more than $200,000 in damage to businesses and caused outages to more than 1,500 houses in the city, authorities said. Fifteen of the impacted households were part of PG&E's Medical Baseline Program, which means they required power to run life-saving medical equipment."

Peter Karasev pleaded guilty to two counts of willfully destroying energy facilities for bombings of PG&E electrical transformers in San Jose in 2022 and 2023. He admitted using explosive devices he constructed himself and that the plots were deliberate and premeditated. A federal court sentenced him to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release, and ordered $214,880.67 in restitution plus a $200 special assessment. The attacks inflicted more than $200,000 in business damage and caused outages to over 1,500 households, including 15 households in PG&E's Medical Baseline Program that relied on power for life-saving medical equipment. Bombmaking materials and specialized explosive knowledge were discovered at his residence.

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