Teens behind hundreds of swap attacks plead guilty to federal charges
In perhaps the biggest hit ever prosecuted, an 18-year-old from Lancaster, California, pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from a series of nationwide scams. hundreds of shooting hoaxes and bomb threats prompting police to dispatch to high schools, courthouses and the homes of law enforcement officials.
Alan Winston Filion now faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each of four interstate counts of threatening to injure another person, according to police. United States Department of Justice.
Earlier this year, Filion was arrested and extradited to Seminole County, Florida. At the time, state prosecutors charged Filion with four state felonies stemming from a single incident in which, prosecutors allege, Filion told the Department’s dispatcher Sanford police that he was armed with pipe bombs and an AR-15 rifle and was entering. Masjid Al Hayy Mosque to kill everyone he saw.
Filion, who authorities believe operates online under the name “Torswats,” has been in jail without trial for nearly a year. He has pleaded not guilty to the state’s charges.
The federal charges announced Wednesday, along with interviews from people involved in the investigation — and Filion himself — allege his racketeering activities extended far beyond Florida’s borders.
According to the plea agreement, from approximately August 2022 to January 2024, Filion made more than 375 swap calls. These include incidents where he claimed to have planted bombs or threatened to carry out mass shootings at targeted locations including religious facilities, high schools as well as universities and historically black colleges.
“This indictment and today’s guilty plea reaffirm the Department of Justice’s commitment to using all tools to prosecute every individual who poses a threat,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement. Danger to our community through threats of beatings and pranks must be held accountable.” “For more than a year, Alan Filion targeted religious organizations, schools, government officials, and other innocent victims with hundreds of false threats of mass shootings, violence, and violence. Bombs and other violent crimes are imminent. He has caused profound fear and chaos and will now face the consequences of his actions.”
The case against Filion, WIRED first reportedbuilt on one traces of digital evidence was left on platforms like Telegram, YouTube and Discord, and pieced together by Brad “Cafrozed” Dennis, a private investigator. Dennis was hired by two famous Twitch stars, both victims of Torswats’ calls, to find out who was responsible.
