A man from Romania has pleaded guilty to being involved in more than 75 swatting incidents.
Thomasz Szabo, who also went by “Plank,” “Jonah,” and “Cypher,” led a “years-long conspiracy” that targeted people across the United States, the Department of Justice explained.
Szabo founded an online group that “engaged in a pattern of bomb threats” and “swatting,” the DOJ said. The Romanian made false reports to law enforcement beginning in 2020. In 2023 and early 2024, Szabo targeted 25 Members of Congress, “at least six then-current or former senior U.S. Executive Branch officials, including multiple cabinet-level officials; at least 13 then-current or former senior federal law enforcement officials, including the heads of multiple federal law enforcement agencies; multiple members of the federal judiciary; at least 27 then-current or former state government officials or family members of such officials; at least four religious institutions; and multiple members of the media.”
The man has now pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of threats involving explosives.
“This defendant led a dangerous swatting criminal conspiracy, deliberately threatening dozens of government officials with violent hoaxes and targeting our nation’s security infrastructure from behind a screen overseas,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. “This case reflects our continued focus on protecting the American people and working with international partners to stop these threats at their source.”
FBI Director Kash Patel declared, “Swatting endangers lives and will not be tolerated by the FBI. We are fully committed to working with our partners to bring to justice those criminals hiding behind keyboards and threatening violence.”
