WASHINGTON — Two foreign nationals have been indicted and charged in what prosecutors call a "years-long conspiracy" of organized "swatting" attacks and bomb threats against at least 100 Americans, including senior government officials.
Thomasz Szabo, 26, of Romania, and Nemanja Radovanovic, 21, of Serbia, are each charged with one count of conspiracy, 29 counts of threats and false information regarding explosives, and four counts of transmitting threats in interstate and foreign commerce.
Advances in technology have allowed a growing number of callers to mask their voices, phone numbers or IP addresses before making fake 911 calls to prompt police action, also known as "swatting." Last year, the FBI created a national swatting database to track rising incidences of such false reports. Swatting is a violation of both federal and multiple state laws.
According to an indictment, Szabo, Radovanovic, and others were part of a conspiracy that began sometime around December 2020, and continued through January 2024. The indictment alleges these individuals obtained personal identifying information for their victims and then reported fake emergencies for the purpose of provoking a police response at the victims' homes.
Investigators say the pair targeted at least 40 private victims and 61 official victims — including members of Congress, cabinet-level executive branch officials, senior officials of federal law enforcement agencies, and state officials.
The indictment also alleges that Szabo and Radovanovic called in bomb threats against four businesses, four religious institutions, and one university. The pair also falsely reported homicides and kidnappings, and threatened to kill false hostages, according to the indictment.
“The perpetrators of these crimes left a trail of victims across the United States, abusing critical law enforcement resources to terrorize elected officials, public figures, and private citizens," said Special Agent in Charge McCool. "We will never waver in our commitment to bring individuals like this to justice.”
Szabo was allegedly the organizer and moderator of online chat groups where the suspects communicated using monikers, according to investigators. Some of the monikers for Szabo include “Jonah,” “Jonah Goldberg,” “Plank,” “Rambler,” “War Lord,” and “NotThuggin2”; and for Radovanovic, “XBD31,” “XDR,” “Angus,” “Thuggin,” “Thug Hunter,” and “NotThuggin,” per the indictment.
