An 18-year-old California resident has been sentenced to 48 months in prison for operating an online swatting service. Alan Filion made 375 false calls to emergency services, targeting schools, universities, places of worship, and law enforcement officers, often reporting fake threats of violence and bomb threats.
An 18-year-old from California, Alan Filion, has been sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for his involvement in swatting incidents. Filion operated a swatting service online, accepting payments to make false calls to emergency services, often reporting serious crimes like bomb threats, mass shootings, and hostage situations.
Between August 2022 and January 2024, he made 375 swatting calls, targeting a wide range of locations, including schools, universities, places of worship, and even law enforcement officers. \The Department of Justice stated that Filion provided false information to authorities, including fabricated names, claims of explosives, and threats of violence. In some instances, law enforcement responded to Filion's calls with weapons drawn, detaining individuals at the targeted locations. Filion's actions put lives at risk and diverted valuable resources from genuine emergencies. Adding to the severity of his crimes, Filion brazenly advertised his services online, even offering different price tiers based on the type of swatting call. He charged $40 for a gas leak or fire emergency, $50 for a major police response, and $75 for bomb or mass shooting threats. Filion's online posts boastfully detailed his operations, with a chilling disregard for the potential consequences of his actions. \Filion's arrest in January 2023 stemmed from a swatting call targeting a mosque in Florida, where he falsely reported a mass shooting. Fortunately, no one was injured in this incident, thanks to the quick response of local law enforcement, which eventually involved the Counter Terrorism Unit. In federal court, Filion pleaded guilty to making this threat, as well as three other swatting calls, including threats against a high school in Washington, a historically Black college in Florida, and a false claim of killing his mother while impersonating a senior federal law enforcement officer in Texas. His sentence of 48 months, while seemingly lenient, serves as a stark reminder of the serious consequences of engaging in swatting activities
SWATTING CRIMINAL CHARGES ONLINE CRIME CALIFORNIA PRISON SENTENCE EMERGENCY SERVICES FALSE REPORTS THREATS
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