A former Tacoma resident with a history of legal troubles has now been implicated in a string of attacks on energy facilities in the South Sound and Southwest Washington, attempts that seem consistent with an elaborate scheme to burglarize ATMs and businesses during power outage windows. In a recent indictment, 33-year-old Zachary Rosenthal, currently incarcerated for vehicular assault, faces charges of conspiracy to destroy energy facilities and multiple counts of destruction or attempted destruction of an energy facility, as was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller.
The federal grand jury indictment, which became public just yesterday, details Rosenthal's alleged activities between June and December 2022, which includes conspiring with others to carry out damages against six power substations resulting in significant power outages for thousands; these range from about 1,000 to 6,000 customers at each site affected, but also, the indictment alleges this was all part of a criminal scheme that targeted businesses and ATMs during the resultant blackouts.
According to the indictment, the attacks employed various methods, from gunshots and smashing equipment to using heavy chains to cause short circuits. The U.S. Attorney's Office notes that Rosenthal has also been indicted for similar offenses in Oregon, with those cases involving two energy facilities in Portland, and those are slated for trial on November 3, 2025.
With a potential sentence that includes up to 20 years in federal prison and three years of supervised release, the severity of Rosenthal's alleged crimes is clear and serious; the FBI is actively investigating the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg leads the prosecution. The Justice Department's release emphasizes, however, that the charges are mere allegations, with a reminder that "A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
