A 26-year-old Romanian man named Thomasz Szabo, also known by online aliases like Plank, Jonah, and Cypher, has admitted guilt today in a major federal case involving dangerous “swatting” attacks and bomb threats across the United States.
Szabo, who led an online group, orchestrated a series of fake emergency reports targeting government buildings, religious institutions, private homes, and even senior U.S. officials.
Swatting Puts Lives at Risk and Wastes Critical Resources
Swatting is a terrifying and reckless crime where someone calls in a false emergency—such as a bomb threat or an active shooter situation—aimed at getting police to rush to a specific address.
Szabo’s conspiracy was particularly malicious, involving dozens of such incidents designed to cause chaos and fear.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi highlighted the severity of the case, saying, “This defendant led a dangerous swatting criminal conspiracy, deliberately threatening dozens of government officials with violent hoaxes and targeting our nation’s security infrastructure from behind a screen overseas.” She emphasized that the government is committed to stopping these types of threats through international cooperation.
FBI and U.S. Attorneys Condemn Szabo’s Actions
FBI Director Kash Patel called swatting “a life-endangering crime that will not be tolerated,” stressing the FBI’s dedication to catching criminals who hide behind keyboards to threaten violence.
Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro from the District of Columbia underlined the strain such false reports put on law enforcement and communities, noting that swatting “can result in major injury or even death” and wastes precious police resources.
The Scale of Szabo’s Swatting Campaign and Its Victims
Court documents reveal Szabo founded and led an online community that started these attacks in late 2020.
Under his direction, the group made frightening threats including a fake mass shooting threat to New York City synagogues and a bomb threat against the U.S. Capitol aimed at the President-elect.
Between December 2023 and January 2024, the group launched a spree of swatting and bomb threats targeting a wide range of high-profile victims: more than 25 members of Congress or their families, senior government officials, top federal law enforcement leaders, members of the judiciary, state officials, religious institutions, and members of the media.
One member even boasted to Szabo about creating “massive havoc” and causing over half a million dollars in wasted taxpayer money in just two days.
Legal Consequences and Extradition
Szabo pleaded guilty to conspiracy and making threats involving explosives.
These charges carry serious prison sentences—up to five years for conspiracy and ten years for explosive threats.
He was extradited from Romania in late 2024, and his sentencing is set for October 23.
Collaboration Across Borders to Bring Szabo to Justice
This complex investigation involved multiple U.S. agencies including the Secret Service, FBI, and Capitol Police, working closely with Romanian authorities.
The Justice Department’s international office played a crucial role in extraditing Szabo and gathering evidence overseas.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Conor Mulroe is prosecuting the case with support from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, ensuring those behind such dangerous hoaxes are held accountable.