Teen Pleads Guilty in Massive Swatting Case

A California teenager has pleaded guilty to orchestrating hundreds of swatting incidents across the United States, targeting schools, religious institutions, and government officials.

At a Glance

Alan W. Filion, 18, admitted to making over 375 false threats across the U.S.
Charges include four counts of interstate threats to injure people.
The swatting calls occurred between August 2022 and January 2024.
Filion faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Teen Pleads Guilty to Widespread Swatting Campaign

Alan W. Filion, an 18-year-old from Lancaster, California, has pleaded guilty to charges related to a massive swatting campaign that targeted schools, religious facilities, and government locations across the United States. The teen admitted to making over 375 false threats of bombings, shootings, and other acts of violence between August 2022 and January 2024.

L.A. County 18-year-old pleads guilty to making 375 'swatting' calls throughout the U.S. https://t.co/X0PC7lncVH

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) November 14, 2024

Understanding Swatting and Its Consequences

Swatting is a dangerous practice that involves making false reports to emergency services to provoke a heavy law enforcement response. These hoax calls often result in the deployment of SWAT teams to unsuspecting locations, causing fear, chaos, and potentially dangerous situations for both the targeted individuals and responding officers.

Filion’s actions had far-reaching consequences, causing disruptions and panic in numerous communities. He falsely reported having explosives and firearms, intending to trigger large-scale police deployments. The teen even claimed online that his swatting calls often resulted in police dragging victims and their families out of their homes, highlighting the real-world impact of his actions.

Details of the Case

Filion was charged with four counts of making interstate threats to injure people. His targets included religious institutions, schools, government officials, and individuals across the country. In a particularly alarming development, Filion attempted to monetize his swatting activities in 2023 by advertising them on social media.

The teenager’s arrest came in January 2024 following a threat made against a mosque in Florida. He has been in custody since then and now faces up to five years in prison per count, with a potential maximum sentence of 20 years and a $1 million fine. In addition to the mosque threat, Filion pleaded guilty to three other threatening calls, including threats to a high school, a college, and a police department.

Law Enforcement Response

The FBI has emphasized the severe danger and resource waste caused by swatting incidents. The bureau is committed to holding perpetrators accountable for their actions, recognizing the significant impact these hoax calls have on communities and law enforcement resources.

“For well over a year, Alan Filion targeted religious institutions, schools, government officials, and other innocent victims with hundreds of false threats of imminent mass shootings, bombings and other violent crimes. He caused profound fear and chaos and will now face the consequences of his actions,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco stated.