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Romanian organizer of coordinated swatting campaign sentenced to four years for federal conspiracy and threats

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A Romanian national who led a widespread swatting ring targeting at least 75 public officials, journalists, and four religious institutions was sentenced to four years in federal prison. The offender, 27-year-old Thomasz Szabo, orchestrated bomb threats and swatting attacks beginning in late 2020, prompting armed police responses at numerous locations. Szabo, extradited from Romania in November 2024, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and threats involving explosives in June 2025 and was also ordered three years of supervised release. The campaign included direct threats against U.S. Capitol buildings, synagogues, and senior officials, with coordinated attacks peaking between December 2023 and January 2024. Swatting operations consumed significant law enforcement and taxpayer resources, with one participant claiming to have made 25 swatting calls in a single day, costing over $500,000 in two days.

Timeline

  1. 30.04.2026 20:45 1 articles · 2h ago

    Romanian national sentenced for leading swatting ring and bomb threats targeting U.S. officials and institutions

    Thomasz Szabo, extradited from Romania in November 2024, was sentenced to 4 years in prison for leading an online swatting ring that made false reports to emergency responders targeting over 75 public officials, journalists, and four religious institutions. The coordinated campaign began in late 2020 and peaked between December 2023 and January 2024, involving direct threats against synagogues, the U.S. Capitol, and senior officials. Szabo pleaded guilty in June 2025 to conspiracy and threats involving explosives.

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Information Snippets

  • Thomasz Szabo, 27, of Romania, was sentenced to 4 years in federal prison for leading a swatting and bomb threat ring that targeted at least 75 public officials, journalists, and four religious institutions.

    First reported: 30.04.2026 20:45
    1 source, 1 article
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  • Szabo operated under multiple aliases including 'Jonah,' 'Plank,' 'Rambler,' 'War Lord,' 'Shovel,' 'Cypher,' 'Kollectivist,' 'Mortenberg Shekelstorms,' and 'NotThuggin2.'

    First reported: 30.04.2026 20:45
    1 source, 1 article
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  • The ring launched coordinated swatting and bomb threats beginning in late 2020, escalating significantly between December 2023 and January 2024.

    First reported: 30.04.2026 20:45
    1 source, 1 article
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  • Szabo personally made false reports to U.S. law enforcement, including threats of a mass shooting at New York City synagogues in December 2020 and detonating explosives at the U.S. Capitol and killing President-elect Joe Biden in January 2021.

    First reported: 30.04.2026 20:45
    1 source, 1 article
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  • The campaign targeted at least 25 members of Congress or their family members, six senior executive branch officials (including cabinet-level figures), 13 senior federal law enforcement officials, at least 27 state officials, and four religious institutions.

    First reported: 30.04.2026 20:45
    1 source, 1 article
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  • One co-conspirator claimed to have conducted more than 25 swatting calls in a single day, resulting in over $500,000 in estimated taxpayer costs over two days.

    First reported: 30.04.2026 20:45
    1 source, 1 article
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  • Szabo was extradited from Romania in November 2024 and pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count of conspiracy and one count of threats involving explosives.

    First reported: 30.04.2026 20:45
    1 source, 1 article
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  • A Serbian national, Nemanja Radovanovic, 23, was charged in August 2024 as an accomplice in the same scheme and faces separate proceedings.

    First reported: 30.04.2026 20:45
    1 source, 1 article
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