Office of Public Affairs Romanian Citizen Pleads Guilty to Swatting Numerous Members of Congress Churches and Former US President United States Department of Justice
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ppArchived NewsppThomasz Szabo also known as Plank Jonah and Cypher 26 of Romania pleaded guilty today to being the leader of a yearslong conspiracy that targeted victims across the United States with swatting and bomb threats Szabo and his coconspirators falsely reported ongoing violent emergencies at government buildings houses of worship and private residences including the homes of senior government officialsppThis defendant led a dangerous swatting criminal conspiracy deliberately threatening dozens of government officials with violent hoaxes and targeting our nations security infrastructure from behind a screen overseas said Attorney General Pamela Bondi This case reflects our continued focus on protecting the American people and working with international partners to stop these threats at their sourceppToday Szabo pleaded guilty to a yearslong conspiracy that targeted victims with swatting and bomb threats including to government buildings houses of worship and homes of government officials said FBI Director Kash Patel Swatting endangers lives and will not be tolerated by the FBI We are fully committed to working with our partners to bring to justice those criminals hiding behind keyboards and threatening violenceppThis defendants targeted and ruthless behavior put countless people in danger including law enforcement public officials and ordinary citizens said US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia Swatting attacks that is falsely reporting an ongoing threat of violence at a victims home address for the purpose of provoking a police response there drain precious resources and can result in major injury or even death Anyone who hijacks police resources for senseless crimes like these will have to answer for their actions ppAccording to court documents Szabo was the founder and leader of an online community that starting in late 2020 engaged in a pattern of bomb threats and swatting that is falsely reporting an ongoing threat of violence at a victims home address for the purpose of provoking a police response thereppAs leader of the group Szabo made false reports to US law enforcement including a threat in December 2020 to commit a massshooting at New York City synagogues and a threat in January 2021 to detonate explosives at the US Capitol and kill the Presidentelect Szabo publicized his swatting activity to his followers and encouraged them to engage in similar behaviorppBeginning on Dec 24 2023 and continuing through early January 2024 subordinate members of Szabos group perpetrated a spree of swatting and bomb threats that included as its victims at least 25 Members of Congress or family members of Members of Congress at least six thencurrent or former senior US Executive Branch officials including multiple cabinetlevel officials at least 13 thencurrent or former senior federal law enforcement officials including the heads of multiple federal law enforcement agencies multiple members of the federal judiciary at least 27 thencurrent or former state government officials or family members of such officials at least four religious institutions and multiple members of the mediappDuring that time period one of those subordinates bragged to Szabo I did 25 swattings today and creating massive havoc in America 500000 in taxpayers wasted in just two daysppSzabo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and one count of threats involving explosives which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison Sentencing is scheduled for Oct 23 A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factorsppSzabo was extradited from Romania in November 2024ppThe US Secret Service Washington Field Office and Criminal Investigative Division the FBIs Washington and Minneapolis Field Offices and the US Capitol Police are investigating the case The Justice Departments Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing Szabos arrest and extradition and assisted with securing evidence from abroad including through mutual legal assistance requests Valuable assistance was provided by the US Secret Services Bucharest Resident Office Miami Field Office Syracuse Resident Office Springfield Resident Office the FBIs Legat Office in Bucharest and the US Attorneys Offices for the Western District of Washington the District of South Dakota the Middle District of Florida the Southern District of Florida the Southern District of Illinois and the Northern District of New York The Romanian authorities assistance was critical to the successful investigation of the case and extradition of SzaboppThe US Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia is prosecuting the case with valuable assistance provided by the National Security Divisions Counterterrorism SectionppA Pakistani citizen residing in Canada Muhammad Shahzeb Khan 20 also known as Shahzeb Jadoon was extradited to the United States on June 10 in connection with an indictment filedppA federal jury convicted a Pakistani national today on charges related to smuggling Iranianmade advanced conventional weaponry destined for the Houthis in Yemen and threatening multiple witnessesppThe Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint today in the US District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that North Korean information technology IT workers obtained illegalppOffice of Public AffairsUS Department of Justice950 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington DC 20530ppOffice of Public Affairs Direct Line2025142007ppDepartment of Justice Main Switchboard2025142000ppSignup for Email UpdatesSocial MediappppHave a question about Government Servicesp
Official websites use gov
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Locked padlock
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ppArchived NewsppThomasz Szabo also known as Plank Jonah and Cypher 26 of Romania pleaded guilty today to being the leader of a yearslong conspiracy that targeted victims across the United States with swatting and bomb threats Szabo and his coconspirators falsely reported ongoing violent emergencies at government buildings houses of worship and private residences including the homes of senior government officialsppThis defendant led a dangerous swatting criminal conspiracy deliberately threatening dozens of government officials with violent hoaxes and targeting our nations security infrastructure from behind a screen overseas said Attorney General Pamela Bondi This case reflects our continued focus on protecting the American people and working with international partners to stop these threats at their sourceppToday Szabo pleaded guilty to a yearslong conspiracy that targeted victims with swatting and bomb threats including to government buildings houses of worship and homes of government officials said FBI Director Kash Patel Swatting endangers lives and will not be tolerated by the FBI We are fully committed to working with our partners to bring to justice those criminals hiding behind keyboards and threatening violenceppThis defendants targeted and ruthless behavior put countless people in danger including law enforcement public officials and ordinary citizens said US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia Swatting attacks that is falsely reporting an ongoing threat of violence at a victims home address for the purpose of provoking a police response there drain precious resources and can result in major injury or even death Anyone who hijacks police resources for senseless crimes like these will have to answer for their actions ppAccording to court documents Szabo was the founder and leader of an online community that starting in late 2020 engaged in a pattern of bomb threats and swatting that is falsely reporting an ongoing threat of violence at a victims home address for the purpose of provoking a police response thereppAs leader of the group Szabo made false reports to US law enforcement including a threat in December 2020 to commit a massshooting at New York City synagogues and a threat in January 2021 to detonate explosives at the US Capitol and kill the Presidentelect Szabo publicized his swatting activity to his followers and encouraged them to engage in similar behaviorppBeginning on Dec 24 2023 and continuing through early January 2024 subordinate members of Szabos group perpetrated a spree of swatting and bomb threats that included as its victims at least 25 Members of Congress or family members of Members of Congress at least six thencurrent or former senior US Executive Branch officials including multiple cabinetlevel officials at least 13 thencurrent or former senior federal law enforcement officials including the heads of multiple federal law enforcement agencies multiple members of the federal judiciary at least 27 thencurrent or former state government officials or family members of such officials at least four religious institutions and multiple members of the mediappDuring that time period one of those subordinates bragged to Szabo I did 25 swattings today and creating massive havoc in America 500000 in taxpayers wasted in just two daysppSzabo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and one count of threats involving explosives which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison Sentencing is scheduled for Oct 23 A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factorsppSzabo was extradited from Romania in November 2024ppThe US Secret Service Washington Field Office and Criminal Investigative Division the FBIs Washington and Minneapolis Field Offices and the US Capitol Police are investigating the case The Justice Departments Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing Szabos arrest and extradition and assisted with securing evidence from abroad including through mutual legal assistance requests Valuable assistance was provided by the US Secret Services Bucharest Resident Office Miami Field Office Syracuse Resident Office Springfield Resident Office the FBIs Legat Office in Bucharest and the US Attorneys Offices for the Western District of Washington the District of South Dakota the Middle District of Florida the Southern District of Florida the Southern District of Illinois and the Northern District of New York The Romanian authorities assistance was critical to the successful investigation of the case and extradition of SzaboppThe US Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia is prosecuting the case with valuable assistance provided by the National Security Divisions Counterterrorism SectionppA Pakistani citizen residing in Canada Muhammad Shahzeb Khan 20 also known as Shahzeb Jadoon was extradited to the United States on June 10 in connection with an indictment filedppA federal jury convicted a Pakistani national today on charges related to smuggling Iranianmade advanced conventional weaponry destined for the Houthis in Yemen and threatening multiple witnessesppThe Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint today in the US District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that North Korean information technology IT workers obtained illegalppOffice of Public AffairsUS Department of Justice950 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington DC 20530ppOffice of Public Affairs Direct Line2025142007ppDepartment of Justice Main Switchboard2025142000ppSignup for Email UpdatesSocial MediappppHave a question about Government Servicesp
