Two men have been charged in attacks at four Washington state power substations that left 14,000 people with no power on Christmas Day.
The duo told investigators that their plan was all in order to steal a cash register at a local business, according to the criminal complaint filed Saturday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma.
After cutting off power to the area – subjecting people to a cold and dark holiday weekend – the men drilled a hole in the lock of a business and stole its cash register.
The overnight attacks on the Pierce County substations cut out power to customers during the holidays and caused about $3 million in damages.
Matthew Greenwood, 32, and Jeremy Crahan, 40, were arrested Saturday and have been charged with conspiracy to damage energy facilities and possession of an unregistered firearm.
he four substations that were targeted were the Graham and Elk Plain substations and the Kapowsin and Hemlock substations.
Crahan and Greenwood face up to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge and 10 years for possession of an unregistered firearm.
According to one local outlet, prosecutors are planning to ask for the two men to remain detained at the Federal Detention Center.
The men were first identified as potential suspects through cellphone records and surveillance video, according to U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Nick Brown.
Photos taken of the accused at one of the Tacoma Power substations show a pickup truck and one man at the scene. A similar truck was connected to the incidents.
Officials also said distinctive clothing worn by the suspects was found during a search.
While searching, agents also found two unregistered short-barreled guns.
One of the guns seized was equipped with a makeshift silencer.
Crahan and Greenwood are set to appear in the U.S. District Court in Tacoma  Tuesday.
Further charges may be pending.
Last week, one law enforcement official claimed those who carried out the attack may have been trying to ‘send a message.’

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