A Canadian man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for shootings at an oil pipeline and an electrical substation in the Dakotas after a judge found that his crimes met the definition of terrorism
BISMARCK, N.D. — A Canadian man has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for shootings at an oil pipeline in South Dakota and an electrical substation in North Dakota that caused $1.7 million in damages after a judge found that his crimes met the definition of terrorism.
Cameron Smith, 50, was also ordered Monday to pay more than $2.1 million in restitution, the Bismarck Tribune reported, as well as fines totaling $250,000. He faces deportation after his release.
Smith, who is originally from the Toronto area but had been living in Astoria, Oregon, pleaded guilty last Septembe r to charges of destroying energy facilities for the incidents near Carpenter, South Dakota, in 2022 and in 2023 near Ray, North Dakota.
U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor sentenced Smith to two consecutive 12 ½-year terms, far above federal sentencing guidelines that recommended 3 ½ to 4 ¼ years per count.
Prosecutor David Hagler said the higher sentence was justified because Smith’s actions met