Romanian ringleader admits SWAT calls on U.S. officials

Thomas Szabo, age 26, pleaded guilty Monday to allegations he led a group that targeted Americans with swatting and bomb threats. Swatting is when someone falsely reports a crime or threat at a victim’s home to trigger a police response. Szabo and his co-conspirators falsely reported violent emergencies at government buildings, private residences, and houses of worship for years, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. American authorities in November 2024 extradited Szabo from Romania. He is expected to be sentenced in October for one count of conspiracy and one count of threats and false information regarding explosives.

Who is Szabo accused of targeting? Going back to 2020, the online group made false reports about at least 25 members of Congress or their families, six current or former senior U.S. executive branch officials, and 13 current or former senior federal law enforcement officials. The conspirators also made calls about at least 27 current or former state officials or their families, at least four religious institutions, and people who work in media. Szabo himself made a December 2020 threat about a mass shooting at New York City synagogues and a January 2021 bomb threat at the U.S. Capitol, according to the Justice Department.

What other examples of swatting have taken place recently? A woman died in December outside the home of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., following a swatting call. In November last year, at least five Democratic members of Congress received threats on Thanksgiving Day. FBI Director Kash Patel in March said his agency was investigating an uptick in the incidents targeting media figures.

Dig deeper: Read Elizabeth Russell’s report about Patel calling for an end to swattings.