Alan Filion, 18, became a “serial swatter” for profit and entertainment and made more than 375 swatting and threat calls, federal officials say.

Summary

Alan Filion, 18, of Lancaster, California, pleaded guilty to four counts of making interstate threats in one of the most prolific “swatting” cases ever prosecuted.

Filion made over 375 swatting and threat calls from August 2022 to January 2023, targeting schools, religious institutions, government officials, and FBI agents.

Prosecutors say he turned swatting into a business, advertising his services on social media for profit.

His hoaxes, which included bomb and mass shooting threats, caused widespread fear and chaos. Filion faces up to 20 years in prison.

  • @[email protected]
    4•1 month ago

    “He claimed in a Jan. 19, 2023, online post that his ‘first’ swatting was like ‘2 to 3 years ago’ and that ‘6-9 months ago [he] decided to turn it into a business,’” prosecutors said, noting Filion posted on social media advertising his services.

    Tbh impressive

    • @ABCDE
      13•1 month ago

      What’s impressive about that? He was shit/stupid enough to get caught also.

      • FuglyDuckEnglish
        5•1 month ago

        i mean he advertised on social media.

        As if the feds weren’t all over that.

      • Flying Squid
        5•1 month ago

        It’s kind of impressive it’s taken him this long to get caught, I guess?

        • @ABCDE
          4•1 month ago

          Less than a year so not really.