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The court is investigating a series of calls that disorganized emergency services.
Alan W. Fillion, 18, of Lancaster, California, pleaded guilty to four counts of threats of harm transmitted over interstate communications. He faces up to five years in prison on each of the charges. The verdict will be handed down on February 11, 2025.
According to the case file, from August 2022 to January 2024, Filion made more than 375 calls containing false threats of mass murder, explosions and other acts of violence. The targets included religious organizations, educational institutions, government employees, and individuals across the United States. At the time of most of the calls, Filion was 16 years old.
The attacker used false names and knowingly incorrect information, claiming that he had planted explosive devices or was going to arrange a mass murder. His actions led to a massive mobilization of police and emergency services, distracting them from real emergencies. In some cases, armed officers entered private homes, detained their occupants, and conducted searches, causing severe stress and panic among the victims.
Filion admitted that his activities were both entertainment and commercial. In January 2023, he posted on social media advertising his "swatting" services for a fee. In one of the posts, he mentioned that he had started turning his actions into a business a few months earlier.
Philion's arrest took place in January 2023 on charges brought by Florida authorities. Then he threatened a religious organization in the city of Sanford, stating that he had weapons, explosives and an intention to arrange a massacre. Additional charges include threats to schools, universities and the police, which were made in different periods from 2022 to 2023.
The case was considered within the framework of the Federal Law on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency. Law enforcement, including the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, conducted a wide-ranging investigation, with support from several federal and local agencies.
The Filion case underscores the threat posed by false calls that create chaos, divert emergency services, and cause significant damage to society.
Source
Alan W. Fillion, 18, of Lancaster, California, pleaded guilty to four counts of threats of harm transmitted over interstate communications. He faces up to five years in prison on each of the charges. The verdict will be handed down on February 11, 2025.
According to the case file, from August 2022 to January 2024, Filion made more than 375 calls containing false threats of mass murder, explosions and other acts of violence. The targets included religious organizations, educational institutions, government employees, and individuals across the United States. At the time of most of the calls, Filion was 16 years old.
The attacker used false names and knowingly incorrect information, claiming that he had planted explosive devices or was going to arrange a mass murder. His actions led to a massive mobilization of police and emergency services, distracting them from real emergencies. In some cases, armed officers entered private homes, detained their occupants, and conducted searches, causing severe stress and panic among the victims.
Filion admitted that his activities were both entertainment and commercial. In January 2023, he posted on social media advertising his "swatting" services for a fee. In one of the posts, he mentioned that he had started turning his actions into a business a few months earlier.
Philion's arrest took place in January 2023 on charges brought by Florida authorities. Then he threatened a religious organization in the city of Sanford, stating that he had weapons, explosives and an intention to arrange a massacre. Additional charges include threats to schools, universities and the police, which were made in different periods from 2022 to 2023.
The case was considered within the framework of the Federal Law on the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency. Law enforcement, including the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, conducted a wide-ranging investigation, with support from several federal and local agencies.
The Filion case underscores the threat posed by false calls that create chaos, divert emergency services, and cause significant damage to society.
Source
