An 18-year-old teenager, Alan W. Filion from Lancaster, California, has pled guilty to four counts of making threats to harm through electronic communications. Facing up to five years in prison for each charge, Filion is awaiting sentencing on February 11, 2025.
During the period from August 2022 to January 2024, Filion was responsible for more than 375 calls containing false threats of mass killings, explosions, and other violent acts. His targets included religious organizations, educational institutions, civil servants, and individuals across the United States. The majority of these calls were made when Filion was just 16 years old.
Using false identities and misinformation, Filion claimed to have planted explosives or planned massacres, resulting in large-scale responses from law enforcement and emergency services. These false alarms diverted resources from genuine emergencies, with armed officers even conducting searches of private homes, causing panic and distress to the victims.
Admitting that his actions were both for entertainment and profit, Filion advertised his “Swatting” services for a fee on social media in January 2023. His arrest came after threatening a religious organization in Sanford, Florida, with weapons, explosives, and plans for a massacre. Additional charges included threats to schools, universities, and police made between 2022 and 2023.
The case against Filion was prosecuted under the Federal Law aimed at preventing juvenile offenses. The FBI and US Secret Service, along with various federal and local agencies, conducted a thorough investigation into his activities. This case underscores the dangers posed by false threats that disrupt emergency services and cause harm to individuals and communities.