A Romanian man has been sentenced to four years in prison for orchestrating a series of swatting calls and bomb threats targeting dozens of U.S. government officials, including members of Congress, cabinet-level figures, federal judges, and heads of federal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors announced.
Details of the Sentence
Thomasz Szabo, 27, was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington, D.C. In addition to the prison term, Szabo was ordered to serve three years of supervised release. He had pleaded guilty last June to conspiracy and threats charges. Prosecutors had recommended a sentence of nearly five years.
Nature of the Offenses
Szabo was a prolific participant in swatting, a dangerous form of online harassment that involves making hoax threats to provoke emergency police responses. This practice has become an increasing occupational hazard for public officials across the American political spectrum.
According to court documents, Szabo began creating chat servers for internet trolling in 2018 from Romania. By late 2020, he expanded his activities to include swatting, often coordinating with others to make bogus threats. Prosecutors noted that these activities offered "more entertainment value" to Szabo and his followers, despite causing significant harm to victims and society.
Coordinated Campaign
Szabo was charged alongside Nemanja Radovanovic of Serbia, whose case remains unresolved. Another associate, Alan Filion, was sentenced separately in Florida in February 2025 to four years in prison for making approximately 375 swatting calls as a juvenile.
In December 2023, Szabo told Radovanovic that they should target both Republican and Democratic officials, stating, "we are not on any side." The following day, they launched a swatting spree targeting at least 25 members of Congress or their relatives, along with dozens of other state and federal officials.
Impact and Response
Prosecutors emphasized that these hoaxes diverted police resources from real emergencies. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated, "This administration will not tolerate attacks on the institutions and individuals who serve this country."
Szabo was questioned by Secret Service agents in January 2024 after Romanian authorities searched his home. He was extradited to the U.S. in November 2024.
