The U.S. Department of Justice issued a statement on Monday, June 2nd, revealing that a Romanian man has admitted to orchestrating and masterminding years of “swatting” and bomb threat operations targeting over 70 high-ranking U.S. officials, public figures, religious institutions, and media reporters with malicious harassment and intimidation.
26-year-old Thomas Szabo, extradited from Romania to the U.S. in November 2024, recently pleaded guilty in the Federal District Court of Washington, D.C., confessing to charges of conspiracy and providing false explosive threat information, with sentencing scheduled for October 23, 2025.
According to court documents, Szabo established and led an online criminal community since late 2020, specializing in remote-controlled false alarms and bomb threats from overseas. He and his accomplices falsely reported emergencies to U.S. law enforcement, including a fabricated mass shooting threat against a Jewish synagogue in New York City in December 2020 and a bomb threat aimed at the U.S. Capitol building and the assassination of then President-elect Joe Biden in January 2021.
The Department of Justice highlighted that between December 24, 2023, and early January 2024, within a few short weeks, Szabo’s team launched attacks on at least 25 members of Congress and their families, 6 former or current federal high-ranking officials, 13 former or current federal law enforcement leaders, 27 state officials, and 4 religious institutions.
An investigation revealed that one accomplice boasted in an online chat room, saying, “Today, I reported 25 cases… causing massive chaos in the U.S., wasting over half a million dollars of taxpayers’ money in two days.”
Federal prosecutor Jeanine Ferris Pirro stated, “The actions of this defendant endangered the safety of numerous civilians and law enforcement officers. False alarms not only deplete valuable resources but can also lead to serious injuries or fatalities, warranting strict legal punishment.”
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized, “This case demonstrates our firm commitment to safeguarding national security and highlights the importance of cooperation with international partners in combating such threats at their roots.”
The Romanian government provided crucial assistance in this case, facilitating Szabo’s successful arrest and extradition to the U.S.
The U.S. government stresses that this case will serve as a crucial example in combating cross-border cybercrime, promising ongoing close collaboration with global law enforcement and intelligence agencies to prevent similar threats from recurring and safeguard national security and public safety.