Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Use a Weapon of Mass Destruction and to Destroy an Energy Facility in Nashville

NASHVILLE - Skyler Philippi, 24, of Columbia, Tennessee, pleaded guilty today to attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to destroy an energy facility.

"For months, Philippi planned what he had hoped would be a devastating attack on Nashville's energy infrastructure. He acquired what he believed to be explosives, surveilled his target, and equipped a drone to attack an electrical substation. Motivated by a violent ideology, Philippi wanted 'to do something big.' Instead, the FBI disrupted his plans, and Philippi now awaits sentencing," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. "The National Security Division and the FBI will continue to protect our Nation's critical infrastructure from would-be saboteurs."

"Our office is fully committed to thwarting dangerous attacks motivated by hate," said Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee. "I commend the agents who investigated this conduct and stopped this attack from victimizing our community. I commend the prosecutors who held the defendant accountable for his terrible actions."

"Skyler Philippi planned to attack an energy facility with a drone containing explosives, which had the potential to knock out power to thousands of American homes and to critical facilities like hospitals," said Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division. "Through rigorous investigation, his plan was disrupted. Protecting our communities from threats to public safety is a priority for the FBI, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who attempt to damage critical infrastructure and threaten our national security."

"As he admitted in federal court today, in furtherance of his ideological beliefs, Skyler Philippi conducted extensive research into explosive devices and potential targets to launch an attack against critical infrastructure," said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "The FBI is committed to doing everything in our ability to detect, disrupt, and deter attacks by domestic violent extremists. It is thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the FBI Nashville Field Office's Joint Terrorism Task Force, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, and law enforcement partners that Philippi's plot was detected and stopped."

According to court documents, in June 2024, Philippi communicated to a Confidential Human Source (CHS) that he wanted to commit a mass shooting at a YMCA facility located in or around Columbia, Tennessee. In July 2024, Philippi told another CHS about the impact of attacking large interstate substations and said that attacking several substations would "shock the system," causing other substations to malfunction. Philippi researched previous attacks on electric substations and concluded that attacking with firearms would not be sufficient. Philippi, therefore, planned to use a drone with explosives attached to it and to fly the drone into the substation. Philippi said that his plan was to fly a drone with explosives attached to it into the electric substation, that he preferred to build a drone himself to avoid law enforcement detection, and that he wanted to attach TATP (Triacetone Triperoxide, a high-energy explosive material) or C-4 explosive material to the drone.

In August 2024, Philippi told an undercover employee (UCE) that he had written what he called a "manifesto" outlining his desire to attack "high tax cities or industrial areas to let the kikes lose money," and about his previous affiliation with Atomwaffen Division and the National Alliance.

In September 2024, Philippi conducted reconnaissance of a specific electric substation. Philippi ordered a plastic explosive composition known as C-4 and other explosives from the UCEs. Philippi purchased black powder to be used in pipe bombs, which Philippi intended to use during the attack on the substation. Philippi texted: "if you want to do the most damage as an accelerationist, attack high economic, high tax, political zones in every major metropolis." Referring to the substation, Philippi stated, "Holy sh**. This will go up like a fu**in fourth of July firework."

On Nov. 2, 2024, Philippi met the undercover employees at a hotel and participated in a Nordic ritual, which included reciting a Nordic prayer and discussing the Norse god Odin. Philippi told the UCEs that "this is where the New Age begins" and that it was "time to do something big" that would be remembered "in the annals of history." Philippi and the UCEs drove to the operation site. The UCEs moved to their assigned positions as lookouts for Philippi. Law-enforcement agents arrested Philippi. When he was taken into custody, Philippi was at the rear of the vehicle, with the drone powered up, and the explosive device was armed and located next to the drone. Philippi was prepared to attach the explosives to the drone when he was arrested.

Philippi will be sentenced on January 8, 2026. At sentencing, Philippi faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Nashville Field Office is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Kurtzman of the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

# # # # #