A Romanian national, Thomasz Szabo, has pleaded guilty to his involvement in a widespread "swatting" conspiracy that targeted numerous U.S. officials, including a former president and members of Congress. The scheme involved making hoax emergency calls and bomb threats to instigate aggressive police responses at victims’ homes and other locations. Szabo was extradited from Romania in November 2024.

Romanian Man Pleads Guilty in Swatting Conspiracy

Thomasz Szabo, 26, admitted his role in a sophisticated "swatting" operation that aimed to intimidate and threaten dozens of U.S. public figures. The conspiracy, which began in late 2020, involved placing bogus 911 calls and issuing bomb threats, leading to significant law enforcement deployments.

  • Szabo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of making bomb threats.

Targets of the Hoax

The elaborate scheme targeted a wide array of individuals and institutions across the United States. Szabo and his co-conspirator, Nemanja Radovanovic, allegedly aimed for both Republican and Democratic officials, asserting they were "not on any side."

Key targets included:

  • A former U.S. president (swatted on January 9, 2024, with a false report of a killing and bomb threat).
  • Over 75 public officials, including members of Congress, governors, and cabinet-level officials.
  • At least 25 members of Congress or their family members.
  • Six then-current or former senior U.S. federal officials.
  • At least 13 then-current or former senior federal law enforcement officials.
  • Members of the federal judiciary, state government officials, and journalists.
  • Four religious institutions.

Dangerous Threats and Consequences

Beyond "swatting" calls, the conspiracy involved serious threats that aimed to create widespread panic and disruption. These included:

  • Threats to commit a mass shooting at multiple unspecified synagogues in New York City (December 2020).
  • Threats to detonate explosives at the U.S. Capitol Building and kill then-President-elect Joe Biden (January 17, 2021).
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Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, "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." FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized that "Swatting endangers lives and will not be tolerated by the FBI."

Legal Proceedings

Szabo was extradited from Romania in November 2024. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23 by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington, D.C. Charges against his alleged co-conspirator, Nemanja Radovanovic, 21, of Serbia, are still pending.

Sources

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