Teenager accused of swatting hundreds of places nationwide pleads guilty

A teenager allegedly behind hundreds of swatting incidents pleaded guilty on Wednesday to four counts of making interstate threats.

Prosecutors claimed that 18-year-old Alan Filion of Lancaster, California, made more than 375 swatting and threatening calls from 2022 through January 2024. 

Some of the calls included claims that he placed bombs at religious institutions, schools, and government buildings. He also threatened to detonate the bombs or carry out mass shootings, the Justice Department reported.

The teenager was mostly underage at the time of the calls, but he faces up to five years for each of the four charges.

“This prosecution and today’s guilty plea reaffirm the Justice Department’s commitment to using all tools to hold accountable every individual who endangers our communities through swatting and hoax threats,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement. "He caused profound fear and chaos and will now face the consequences of his actions.”

Swatting is when an individual calls 911 to report a knowingly false crime in order to trigger a massive police presence at the residence or business.

Federal prosecutors claimed that Filion also intended to make a profit from the swatting incidents, after he advertised his services on social media in exchange for a fee. Filion is allegedly responsible for calls throughout the country, including Louisiana, Maryland, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington, according to NBC News.

No sentencing date has been set for Filion so far.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.