In a revealing court appearance today, 18-year-old Alan W. Filion, a resident of Lancaster, California, accepted guilt on four separate counts related to making interstate threats aimed at harming others. Each count carries a potential maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, yet no date for sentencing has been established as of now.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized the significance of the case, stating, “This prosecution and today’s guilty plea reaffirm the Justice Department’s commitment to using all tools to hold accountable every individual who endangers our communities through swatting and hoax threats. For well over a year, Alan Filion targeted religious institutions, schools, government officials, and other innocent victims with hundreds of false threats of imminent mass shootings, bombings, and other violent crimes, which resulted in widespread fear and disarray.”
Paul Abbate, the Deputy Director of the FBI, added, “Alan Filion not only intended to cause as much harm as possible, but he also attempted to profit from these criminal activities by offering swatting-for-a-fee services. Swatting poses severe dangers to first responders and victims, wastes significant time and resources, and creates fear in communities. The FBI will continue to work with partners to aggressively investigate and hold accountable anyone who engages in these activities.”
According to the plea agreement, Filion embarked on a sinister campaign of terror from approximately August 2022 to January 2024, making over 375 swatting calls and threats across the nation. These calls included alarming declarations of bomb placements and intentions to carry out mass shootings at multiple locations, targeting not just innocent individuals but religious institutions and educational facilities as well. It’s worth noting that Filion was only 16 years old when he executed the majority of these calls.
Filion’s strategic intent was to incite large-scale responses from police and emergency services, providing fabricated information during his calls that led to unwarranted panic and mobilization of resources. He offered false names and made alarming claims about possessing explosive devices, dangerous weapons, and imminent violent actions, which resulted in significant disruptions to emergency response systems.
Filion’s actions created an atmosphere of fear and chaos in affected communities. The astronomical amount of time dispatchers spent dealing with his fraudulently placed calls also meant they were unavailable to respond to real emergencies. In some instances, responding officers faced potentially dangerous situations as they entered residences armed and ready to confront imagined threats.
Documents reveal that Filion viewed his criminal endeavors as both a source of profit and amusement. He publicly shared in online posts that the idea for his “swatting business” materialized around 6 to 9 months ago, following years of engagement in the practice that he began as a hobby.
Filion’s most notorious threat was made in January 2023, when he was arrested in California on state charges after menacingly claiming to possess an illegally modified AR-15, a Glock 17, explosive devices, and a determination to execute a mass shooting at a religious institution in Sanford, Florida. Today, he formally admitted guilt regarding that particular threat in federal court.
The federal charges against Filion fall under the Federal Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Act (JDA), highlighting that he was 17 years old when these specific charges were initially filed. He has been in custody since his January arrest on state charges.
In additional allegations, Filion pleaded guilty today to three other serious threats made over the span of months, including alarming calls made to a public high school in Washington, a Historically Black College & University in Florida, and a local police department in Texas, each filled with dangerous and unfounded accusations.
The investigation into Filion’s actions involves extensive collaboration among several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and U.S. Secret Service, with the significant assistance of local authorities from California to Florida.
Prosecutors on the case include Assistant U.S. Attorneys from various districts, working alongside dedicated resources from the State Attorney’s Office and various U.S. Attorney’s Offices across regions affected by Filion’s fraudulent acts, underscoring the comprehensive effort to hold him accountable for his extensive criminal conduct.
**Interview with Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco on the Alan W. Filion Case**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. We appreciate you taking the time to discuss the significant developments in the Alan W. Filion case.
**Monaco:** Thank you for having me. It’s crucial that we shed light on this case and the implications it has for our communities.
**Editor:** Can you explain the gravity of the charges against Filion and what his guilty plea signifies for future enforcement against similar crimes?
**Monaco:** Certainly. Filion pled guilty to four counts of making interstate threats aimed at causing harm. These are serious offenses that carry a maximum of five years each in federal prison. His actions over a prolonged period – targeting religious institutions, schools, and government officials with false threats – highlight a disturbing trend in which individuals think they can act without consequence. The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that such reckless behavior is met with accountability.
**Editor:** It must have been a challenging case for law enforcement. What can you share about the motivations behind Filion’s actions?
**Monaco:** Filion appeared to derive both financial and psychological satisfaction from his acts. He offered “swatting-for-a-fee” services, exploiting innocent individuals and creating chaos. His conduct was not just about causing fear; it was also about manipulating emergency responses for his benefit. This is unacceptable and positions a severe risk to public safety as well as to first responders.
**Editor:** This case also drew attention to the broader implications of swatting. Can you elaborate on how swatting affects communities and emergency services?
**Monaco:** Absolutely. Swatting can lead to real harm, as first responders are dispatched to false threats and have to deal with potentially dangerous situations. It misallocates vital resources, diverting personnel away from genuine emergencies. Ultimately, this erodes community trust and safety, contributing to an atmosphere of fear. Our commitment is to work aggressively with agencies like the FBI to investigate and prosecute individuals engaged in such dangerous activities.
**Editor:** Filion was only 16 when many of these incidents occurred. What does this suggest about the need for preventive measures in youth conduct regarding such threats?
**Monaco:** It highlights a critical need for education and preventive measures focused on young individuals. We must engage with communities, schools, and families to ensure that young people understand the serious legal and ethical implications of their actions, especially in our increasingly digital landscape. Encouraging responsible behavior online and offline is essential in preventing such incidents in the future.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Deputy Monaco. This case underscores the severe implications of such actions and the determination of authorities to uphold safety in our communities.
**Monaco:** Thank you for bringing attention to this important issue. It’s through such discussions that we can foster a safer society for everyone.
