Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for ‘Swatting’ Incident via Ring Doorbell Hack
Introduction to the Case
A 23-year-old man charged in a “swatting” spree in which he and others accessed Ring doorbell accounts and placed hoax calls that elicited police SWAT responses — including one in West Covina — was sentenced Thursday to three years and eight months in federal prison.
Kya Christian Nelson of Racine, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty in January to three felony charges: conspiracy and two counts of unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The Charges and Accomplices
Nelson and James Thomas Andrew McCarty, 22, of Charlotte, North Carolina, were each charged in December 2022 in Los Angeles federal court. Prosecutors said that for one week in November 2020, Nelson and McCarty gained access to home security door cameras sold by Ring LLC, a Santa Monica-based home security technology company. They also acquired username and password information for victims’ Yahoo email accounts, the indictment states.
The West Covina Incident
In the West Covina case, Nelson and an accomplice accessed the victim’s Yahoo and Ring accounts, then placed a hoax call to the West Covina Police Department. Prosecutors said the caller posed as a minor child and reported her parents were drinking and shooting guns inside the residence.
Nationwide Impact and Prevention
The series of nationwide swatting incidents prompted the FBI in late 2020 to issue a public service announcement urging users of smart home devices with cameras and voice capabilities to use complex, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication to help protect against swatting attacks.
Sentencing and Related Cases
McCarty was sentenced in June 2024 to seven years in federal prison both for his role in the Los Angeles case, and for additional charges in the District of Arizona. In connection with the Ring swatting incidents, McCarty pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge as Nelson.
Conclusion
The sentencing of Kya Christian Nelson to federal prison highlights the serious consequences of engaging in "swatting" activities and hacking into personal devices. It also underscores the importance of cybersecurity and the need for individuals to protect their personal information and devices from unauthorized access.
FAQs
What is swatting?
Swatting is the act of making a false report to emergency services, usually to prompt a response from law enforcement, such as a SWAT team.
How can I protect myself from swatting attacks?
To protect yourself from swatting attacks, use complex and unique passwords for all accounts, enable two-factor authentication, and keep your devices and software up to date.
What are the consequences of swatting?
The consequences of swatting can include federal prison time, as seen in the case of Kya Christian Nelson and James Thomas Andrew McCarty.
Originally Published: May 1, 2025 at 3:26 PM PDT
