Teenager Pleads Guilty to Hundreds of Hoax Threats Across US
An 18-year-old California man, Alan Filion, pleaded guilty to making over 375 hoax threats across the country, including bomb threats and mass shooting threats, targeting schools, government officials, and religious institutions. Filion, who began his “swatting” activities at age 16, turned the practice into a business, advertising his services on social media for a fee. His actions, which caused widespread fear and chaos, included a threat to carry out a mass shooting at a mosque in Florida, leading to his arrest and extradition. Filion faces a maximum of five years in prison for each of the four charges against him.
John Q. Hosedrinker