Self-driving car engineer sentenced to 10 years for PG&E bombings in Bay Area

"U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman sentenced San Jose resident Peter Karasev, 39, on two counts of willful destruction of an energy facility, federal officials announced in a news release on Wednesday, Dec. 17. Earlier this year, Karasev pleaded guilty to the charges, admitting to using homemade explosive devices to intentionally cause power outages and "significant destruction" in the San Jose area. He specifically targeted facilities involved in the production, storage, transmission and distribution of electricity."

"The first bombing targeted a PG&E transformer near Westfield Oakridge Mall on Dec. 8, 2022, resulting in a 16-hour blackout that left more than 1,450 homes, businesses, and damaged properties without power. Less than a month later, on Jan. 5, 2023, Karasev bombed PG&E infrastructure near the Plaza Del Rey shopping center, damaging one of the transformers and a nearby building, and causing outages in dozens of nearby homes."

"When Karasev was arrested in March 2023, authorities found multiple homemade bombs, more than 300 pounds of explosive materials and chemicals, remote detonation devices, and several firearms in his home, vehicle and office. Prosecutors also said investigators uncovered evidence of methamphetamine manufacturing at his San Jose residence. Prosecutors estimate the bombings caused more than $200,000 in damage to local businesses and disrupted power to over 1,500 households, including customers enrolled in PG&E's Medical Baseline Program, which provides electricity for life sustaining medical equipment."

Peter Karasev, a 39-year-old San Jose resident and former Zoox software engineer, pleaded guilty to and was sentenced for bombing PG&E electrical infrastructure. He admitted to using homemade explosive devices to intentionally cause power outages and significant destruction, specifically targeting facilities involved in electricity production, storage, transmission and distribution. The attacks included a Dec. 8, 2022 transformer bombing that caused a 16-hour blackout affecting more than 1,450 homes and businesses, and a Jan. 5, 2023 bombing that damaged a transformer and nearby building, causing additional outages. Authorities found bombs, over 300 pounds of explosive materials, detonation devices, firearms, and evidence of methamphetamine manufacturing.

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