Lancaster Teen Pleads Guilty to Making Hundreds of Swatting Calls
A Lancaster teen accused of making hundreds of swatting calls and offering swatting-for-a-fee services pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement.
Guilty Plea and Charges
Alan W. Filion, 18, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Florida to four counts of making interstate threats to injure the person of another. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count.
Swatting Calls and Threats
From August 2022 to January 2024, Filion placed more than 375 swatting and threat calls, according to prosecutors. Some of the calls included bomb and shooting threats to religious institutions, high schools, colleges and universities, government officials, and individuals across the United States.
Intent and Consequences
Filion, 16 at the time most of the calls were placed, sought to trigger a large-scale law enforcement and emergency response to the locations, prosecutors said. In some swatting cases, officers entered locations with weapons drawn and detained people, the Department of Justice said.
Swatting-for-a-Fee Services
Filion also posted ads on social media for fee-based swatting services, prosecutors said.
Reaction from Authorities
“Alan Filion not only intended to cause as much harm as possible, but he also attempted to profit from these criminal activities by offering swatting-for-a-fee services,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “Swatting poses severe danger to first responders and victims, wastes significant time and resources, and creates fear in communities. The FBI will continue to work with partners to aggressively investigate and hold accountable anyone who engages in these activities.”
Arrest and Previous Threats
He was arrested Jan. 18 in California on Florida state charges stemming from a May 2023 threat he made to a religious institution, authorities said. Filion claimed claimed to have an illegally modified AR-15, a Glock 17 pistol, pipe bombs, and Molotov cocktails, according to the DOJ.
Sentencing Date
A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
Conclusion
The guilty plea and charges against Alan W. Filion serve as a reminder of the severe consequences of engaging in swatting and hoax threats. The FBI and other authorities will continue to work together to investigate and hold accountable individuals who engage in these dangerous and illegal activities.
FAQs
Q: What is swatting?
A: Swatting is the act of making a false report to emergency services, such as 911, claiming a serious crime or emergency is occurring, with the intention of triggering a large-scale law enforcement response.
Q: What are the consequences of swatting?
A: Swatting can pose severe danger to first responders and victims, waste significant time and resources, and create fear in communities.
Q: How common is swatting?
A: According to the FBI, swatting is a growing problem, with reports increasing in recent years.
Q: What can be done to prevent swatting?
A: Authorities recommend reporting suspicious activity and threats to the appropriate authorities, and not engaging with or responding to false reports.
