A 22-year-old man with ties to Kayenta, Arizona, is facing a mountain of federal charges after allegedly terrorizing police departments and schools across five states. James Thomas Andrew McCarty, currently residing in Charlotte, North Carolina, stands accused of making a barrage of false emergency calls – including bomb threats and reports of school shootings – as part of a twisted campaign of harassment and fear.
Federal prosecutors unsealed a 26-count indictment Wednesday, detailing how McCarty allegedly flooded 911 lines with bogus claims between January 2021 and June 2021. The calls originated from Kayenta and targeted locations in Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, and Oklahoma. He didn’t just invent emergencies; the feds say he used the names of real people – committing aggravated identity theft to further muddy the waters and escalate the chaos.
The indictment paints a picture of calculated malice. McCarty allegedly claimed to possess bombs, propane tanks, and threatened to shoot responding officers. Two of the calls specifically targeted schools in Westfield, Indiana, and Vinita, Oklahoma, prompting lockdowns and panic. These weren’t idle threats; they triggered massive responses from law enforcement, diverting resources and endangering lives. He’s also facing separate charges in California related to a “swatting” scheme involving the hacking of Ring doorbells.
The feds allege McCarty didn’t stop at false reports. Seven of the calls were made while impersonating other individuals, layering identity theft onto the already serious charges. This isn’t just about wasted police time; it’s about deliberately framing innocent people for crimes they didn’t commit. The use of stolen identities significantly complicates the investigation and adds another layer of harm to the victims.
McCarty was arrested Wednesday and is being held pending transfer to Arizona for prosecution. A detention hearing held earlier this week confirmed he poses a flight risk and a danger to the community. If convicted on all counts, he could face decades behind bars. Each count of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence, on top of any other penalties.
The potential penalties are steep. False statements about explosives alone carry up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Cyberstalking and false information can add another five years and a $250,000 penalty. Federal prosecutors are sending a clear message: wasting emergency resources with false threats, and stealing identities to amplify the harm, will not be tolerated. The FBI is continuing to investigate, and the feds haven’t ruled out the possibility of additional charges.
This case highlights the growing threat of “swatting” and the devastating consequences of online harassment. While often dismissed as a prank, these actions can have deadly results. The investigation is ongoing, and Grimy Times will continue to follow this story as it unfolds.
The feds are urging anyone who believes they may have been a victim of McCarty’s cyberstalking or identity theft to contact the FBI immediately. The full scope of his alleged crimes is still being uncovered, and authorities are working to identify any additional victims.
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Key Facts
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: U.S. Department of Justice
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