Romanian Mastermind Behind Online Swatting Ring Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison

Romanian National Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Leading Swatting Ring

A Romanian individual who orchestrated an online swatting operation targeting over 75 public officials, journalists, and religious institutions has been handed a four-year federal prison sentence.

Swatting is a dangerous form of criminal harassment that involves falsely alerting emergency responders to a violent threat at a specific address, prompting an armed police response.

Thomasz Szabo, aged 27, who was extradited from Romania in November 2024, admitted guilt to conspiracy and threats involving explosives in June 2025, resulting in a four-year prison term and three years of supervised release.

Szabo, known by various aliases such as “Jonah,” “Plank,” and “War Lord,” founded an online community that initiated bomb threats and swatting incidents in late 2020.

Court records reveal that 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 plans to detonate explosives at the U.S. Capitol and harm President-elect Joe Biden in January 2021.

U.S. Attorney Pirro stated, “Thomasz Szabo and his associates targeted members of Congress, journalists, and law enforcement officials with swatting calls and fake bomb threats, resulting in armed police arriving at their locations. Szabo’s extradition and subsequent sentencing demonstrate accountability for his actions.”

Szabo actively promoted his activities and urged followers to carry out similar attacks, leading to a series of swatting incidents targeting government officials and religious entities.

Additionally, Szabo’s followers executed multiple swatting calls, causing significant strain on law enforcement resources and endangering innocent individuals.

Nemanja Radovanovic, a 23-year-old Serbian national linked to the scheme, faces separate legal proceedings following charges in August 2024.

FBI Special Agent Michael Burgwald emphasized the detrimental impact of swatting attacks, highlighting the importance of holding perpetrators accountable and deterring future incidents.