Thomasz Szabo, Swatting Conspiracy, District of Columbia 2026

WASHINGTON – Thomasz Szabo, 27, of Romania, has been sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for orchestrating a nationwide swatting spree that terrorized public officials, religious leaders, journalists, and even a former U.S. President. The sentencing, handed down in U.S. District Court today, brings a measure of closure to a case that exposed a disturbing trend of online harassment with real-world, dangerous consequences.

Szabo, who went by the online aliases “Plank,” “Jonah,” and “Cypher,” pleaded guilty June 2, 2025, to one count of conspiracy and one count of threats involving explosives. Prosecutors had argued for a 57-month sentence, but Judge Amy Berman Jackson settled on 48 months, followed by three years of supervised release. The ringleader’s actions, spanning back to late 2020, involved fabricating bomb threats and false reports of violent incidents at the homes of targeted individuals, triggering large-scale police responses.

“Members of Congress, cabinet officials, the heads of federal law enforcement agencies, churches, journalists — Thomasz Szabo and his followers targeted them all with swatting calls and fake bomb threats designed to send armed police to their doors,” declared U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “This administration will not tolerate attacks on the institutions and individuals who serve this country. Szabo was extradited from Romania to face justice in an American courtroom, and today he has reaped the consequences of his actions.”

The scope of Szabo’s operation was staggering. Court documents reveal he founded and led an online community dedicated to “swatting,” encouraging his followers to participate in the dangerous game. Specific targets included a December 2020 threat to commit a mass shooting at New York City synagogues and a January 2021 threat to detonate explosives at the U.S. Capitol and assassinate the then-President-elect. “Mr. Szabo deliberately wasted public resources and recklessly put the lives of innocent people at risk for his own amusement,” stated Tara McLeese, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office.

Law enforcement officials across multiple agencies condemned Szabo’s actions and emphasized the gravity of “swatting.” U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan highlighted the strain on resources, stating, “Swatting is not just a nuisance – it’s extremely dangerous,” while FBI officials, including Christopher D. Dotson of the Minneapolis Division and Michael Burgwald of the Washington Field Office’s Counterterrorism Division, stressed the seriousness of the crime and the commitment to tracking down perpetrators, no matter their location. “Mr. Szabo’s and his co-conspirators’ incessant swatting attacks created a tremendous drain on law enforcement resources and taxpayer dollars and put innocent civilians in harm’s way,” Burgwald added.

The case underscores the growing threat of online-fueled crime and the challenges of international extradition. Szabo’s conviction serves as a warning that those who engage in such reckless and dangerous behavior will be held accountable, even if they attempt to hide behind the anonymity of the internet. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Secret Service, along with their federal and international partners, are committed to dismantling these types of operations and protecting the safety of public officials and citizens alike.

Source: https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2026/04/romanian-citizen-sentenced-dc-swatting-members-congress-churches-and