A California teenager has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to orchestrating one of the largest swatting campaigns ever prosecuted in the United States. Alan Winston Filion, 18, from Lancaster, California, faces up to 20 years in prison for making hundreds of false emergency calls that triggered massive police responses across the country.
Between August 2022 and January 2024, Filion made over 375 swatting calls targeting religious institutions, schools, government officials, and private citizens. Many of these hoax calls involved threats of bombs, mass shootings, and other acts of violence that led to dangerous deployments of armed law enforcement teams.
According to court documents, Filion, who operated online under the name "Torswats," was only 16 years old when he began his nationwide campaign of terror. His targets included high-profile figures like US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Senator Rick Scott.
The investigation revealed that Filion not only conducted swatting attacks himself but also ran a "swatting-for-hire" operation, advertising his services on social media platforms. He collaborated with international co-conspirators, including two European men who were charged separately in connection with the scheme.
One particularly alarming incident involved a Florida mosque where Filion claimed to be armed with pipe bombs and an AR-15 rifle, threatening to "kill everyone" inside. In another case, he targeted a historically Black college in Florida with bomb threats.
The breakthrough in the case came after a private investigator, hired by two Twitch streamers who had been victimized, infiltrated online groups where Filion operated. The investigator gathered crucial digital evidence that helped the FBI identify and locate the teenager.
Despite a raid on his home in July 2023, Filion continued his criminal activities. He remained active until his arrest in January 2024, when he was extradited to Florida to face charges.
The Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized the severity of Filion's actions, stating that he "caused profound fear and chaos" across communities. FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate noted that swatting incidents pose severe dangers to first responders and victims while wasting significant emergency resources.
A sentencing date has not yet been set for Filion, who pleaded guilty to four counts of making interstate threats to injure another person. Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.