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Montgomery County Man Admits to ‘Swatting’ Threats

PHILADELPHIA – In a shocking case of cybercrime, Michael Anthony Nohl, 20, of Oaks, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to charges from a so-called ‘swatting’ incident that targeted a law enforcement officer and the officer’s family.

The term ‘swatting’ is generally defined as the act of deceiving an emergency service, such as 911 or other emergency services dispatcher, into dispatching emergency response units, including police SWAT teams, fire departments and medical personnel, based on the false report of an ongoing critical incident.

On December 22, 2014, Nohl was involved in a phone call to the home of the officer in which the officer’s wife and daughter were threatened with kidnap and murder, as well as threats to assault and kill the officer. The chilling threats were made using a telephone or other instruments of interstate or foreign commerce, which is a serious federal offense.

According to the charges, Nohl used a telephone to threaten the use of an explosive to kill, injure, or intimidate an individual, and transmitted a communication containing a threat to injure a person.

Nohl now faces a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a possible fine, up to three-years of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment. The case is a stark reminder of the dangers of ‘swatting’ and the serious consequences that can result from such reckless behavior.

Assistant United States Attorney José Arteaga is leading the prosecution, while the case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The court has scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 9, 2016. This case highlights the importance of taking cybercrime seriously and holding those responsible accountable for their actions.

Michael Anthony Nohl’s guilty plea is a significant step in the right direction, and we hope that justice will be served in this case. As a community, we must work together to prevent such crimes from happening in the future.