Romanian national pleads guilty to ‘swatting’ over 75 public officials — including an ex-president
A Romanian national, known by his aliases “Plank,” “Jonah,” and “Cypher,” has pleaded guilty to charges related to his involvement in a “swatting” ring that targeted numerous public officials, including a former US president. Thomasz Szabo, 26, was part of a conspiracy that involved making fake 911 calls and bomb threats against government officials and buildings. Along with his co-conspirator, 21-year-old Serbian national Nemanja Radovanovic, they targeted approximately 100 individuals, including members of Congress, governors, and cabinet-level officials.
One of their victims was described as a “former elected official from the executive branch,” who was swatted on January 9, 2024. Radovanovic falsely reported a murder at the official’s home and threatened to detonate explosives, causing panic and disruption. Szabo was responsible for selecting several victims and directing Radovanovic to make the threatening calls, without showing any bias towards political affiliations.
The criminal activities began in December 2020 when Szabo threatened a mass shooting at synagogues in New York City. Subsequent calls included threats to the US Capitol Building and then-President-elect Joe Biden. The last reported swatting call occurred on January 9, 2024, targeting a state governor’s residence.
Szabo, who was extradited from Romania last year, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and making bomb threats. He is set to be sentenced in a Washington, DC federal court later this year. Attorney General Pam Bondi expressed the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the need to protect the American people and work with international partners to combat such threats.
FBI Director Kash Patel condemned swatting as a dangerous practice that puts lives at risk and reiterated the FBI’s commitment to pursuing and prosecuting individuals involved in such activities. Charges against Radovanovic are still pending, indicating ongoing efforts to hold all responsible parties accountable for their actions.
