These calls involved false reports of bomb threats and mass shootings, causing significant disruption and unnecessary emergency responses.
Alan W. Filion, an 18-year-old resident of Lancaster, confessed to targeting various locations, including educational institutions, religious sites, and even government officials, as part of a plea agreement, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. As reported by CBS News, federal prosecutors highlighted that Filion's actions were intended to provoke substantial law enforcement responses. This misuse of resources left officers unable to attend to genuine emergencies, with some instances resulting in officers arriving at scenes with weapons drawn, detaining individuals based on the fabricated threats.
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In a particularly disturbing social media post dated January 20, 2023, Filion boasted about his ability to manipulate law enforcement into extreme actions, claiming he "usually get[s] the cops to drag the victim and their families out of the house cuff them and search the house for dead bodies," as stated by the Justice Department. His swatting activities spanned from August 2022 to January 2024, culminating in a guilty plea to four counts of making interstate threats to injure others. Initially, federal prosecutors indicated that Filion faced a potential maximum sentence of 20 years, with each count carrying up to five years in prison.
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Ultimately, Filion was sentenced to 48 months behind bars. The Justice Department described him as a "serial swatter" who engaged in these activities for both financial gain and entertainment. Filion even advertised his swatting services online, promoting a fee-based structure for his illicit activities. His arrest in January 2024 was linked to charges in Florida, where he threatened a mass shooting at a religious institution in Sanford, claiming possession of pipe bombs, an illegally modified AR-15, a Glock 17 pistol, and Molotov cocktails. He later pleaded guilty to this threat in federal court.
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The Justice Department's statement also outlined three additional swatting incidents to which Filion admitted guilt. These actions underscore the severe consequences of exploiting emergency services for personal amusement or profit, highlighting the need for stringent measures to deter such behavior.
