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Bremerton Man Sentenced to 3 Years for Cross-Border Swatting Terror
TACOMA, WA – Ashton Connor Garcia, a 21-year-old resident of Bremerton, Washington, will spend the next three years in federal prison after being sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma for orchestrating a relentless swatting campaign that stretched across the United States and into Canada. Garcia pleaded guilty in January 2024 to two counts of extortion and two counts of threats and hoaxes involving explosives, bringing a conclusion – and a measure of justice – to a case that laid bare the dangerous reality of online harassment.
U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman announced the sentencing, condemning Garcia’s actions as “cruel, uncivilized, and the willful terrorizing of other human beings.” Judge Benjamin H. Settle, echoing Gorman’s sentiment, stated the need to “send a message that engaging in swatting will get more than a slap on the hand.” The judge clearly recognized the gravity of the offense, moving beyond a light sentence to deliver a penalty reflecting the potential for real-world harm.
According to court documents, Garcia, from early June 2022 through March 2023, weaponized voice over internet technology and social media to unleash a barrage of false emergency calls. He didn’t just make the calls; he actively encouraged others to watch the resulting chaos unfold online. The intent, as detailed in his plea agreement, was to trigger massive responses from law enforcement – SWAT teams, bomb squads, the full force of emergency services – directed at innocent victims. This wasn’t about a prank; it was a calculated effort to harass, intimidate, and extort.
The scope of Garcia’s depravity is staggering. The plea agreement details 20 separate false emergency reports targeting individuals in California, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Washington, and even Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He meticulously gathered personal information on his targets, then leveraged that knowledge to threaten them with harm, including the terrifying prospect of a heavily armed police raid on their homes. His demands ranged from money and virtual currency to credit card information and even sexually explicit photos – a chilling testament to his predatory behavior.
The false reports themselves were elaborate and malicious. Garcia falsely claimed explosive devices had been planted, fabricated stories of murder, rape, and kidnapping, and alleged his victims possessed dangerous weapons. He frequently employed the same, twisted scripts: claims of a father holding his son hostage, fabricated shootings of his parents, and false allegations of sexual assault within his own family. These lies weren’t just words; they triggered real-world responses, diverting vital law enforcement resources from genuine emergencies. In one instance, an 8-year-old boy in Edmonton, Alberta, was awakened in the night by a team of officers with rifles. In New Jersey, a man was detained at gunpoint, and an elementary school was locked down on its first day. In Colorado, a family experienced the trauma of their front door being breached by officers responding to a false report of a life-threatening injury.
Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Manca, in advocating for a four-year sentence, detailed the profound impact of Garcia’s actions on his victims. This case serves as a stark reminder that swatting is not a harmless joke. It’s a federal crime with potentially fatal consequences, and those who engage in it will face serious repercussions. U.S. Attorney Gorman hopes this prosecution and sentence will act as a “wake-up call” to anyone considering such a dangerous and destructive act.
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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