BISMARCK, N.D. — A Canadian citizen has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison following his involvement in attacks on an oil pipeline in South Dakota and a power substation in North Dakota, which resulted in damages amounting to $1.7 million. The judge ruled that his actions met the criteria for terrorism.
Cameron Smith, aged 50, is also required to pay over $2.1 million in restitution, as reported by the Bismarck Tribune, along with $250,000 in fines. Following his prison term, he faces deportation.
Smith, who previously resided in Toronto but was living in Astoria, Oregon, accepted responsibility last September by pleading guilty. The charges stem from incidents that took place near Carpenter, South Dakota, in 2022 and again near Ray, North Dakota, in 2023; both involved destruction of energy facilities.
U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor imposed two consecutive 12 ½-year sentences on Smith, exceeding federal sentencing guidelines, which had suggested 3 ½ to 4 ¼ years for each count.
Prosecutor David Hagler argued in favor of the heightened sentence, noting that Smith’s actions qualified as terrorism by “attempting to intimidate or coerce a civilian population.”
Conversely, Smith’s defense attorney, Douglas Passon, contended against the harsher sentence. Passon described Smith as someone deeply conscious of climate change issues who aimed to raise awareness peacefully and had taken care to avoid hurting others.
In the South Dakota attack, prosecutors detailed that Smith’s actions led to the shutdown of a pump station on the Keystone XL Pipeline, causing a leak that damaged surrounding lands. Meanwhile, his actions in North Dakota resulted in damages to transformers and infrastructure at a power substation, causing an electrical outage affecting 243 customers.
In court, Smith expressed that his actions were fueled by frustration over the lack of response to climate change advocacy through lawful methods. He stated that he selected remote sites to minimize risks to individuals and argued for a reduced sentence due to his autism and Crohn’s disease.
“This sentence feels like a death sentence, and I don’t believe it’s fair,” Smith told the court, expressing concerns over receiving necessary medical treatment while imprisoned. “I won’t survive this,” he added.
Judge Traynor was unmoved by Smith’s plea, stating, “You ignored the rule of law in the United States and carried out your actions in a terrorist manner.” Traynor emphasized the premeditated nature of Smith’s actions, noting they constituted two deliberate attacks on critical infrastructure, occurring ten months apart and involving significant travel.
Defense lawyer Passon confirmed on Tuesday plans to appeal the sentence. He described the punishment as unjust, given Smith’s medical and mental health considerations, and disproportionate in comparison to similar offenses.
