Latest news with #Radovanovic
New York Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Romanian national, 26, pleads guilty to ‘swatting' over 75 public officials, including a former US president
A Romanian national pleaded guilty on Monday to charges related to his role in a 'swatting' ring that targeted dozens of public officials, including a former US president. Going by the aliases 'Plank,' 'Jonah' and 'Cypher,' 26-year-old Thomasz Szabo took part in a years-long conspiracy to place bogus 911 calls, claiming emergencies were taking place at the homes of top government officials, and make bomb threats against government buildings and houses of worship, according to Justice Department. Szabo and a co-conspirator, 21-year-old Serbian national Nemanja Radovanovic, allegedly targeted about 100 people, including members of Congress, governors, cabinet-level executive branch officials and state officials. 3 A Romanian national pleaded guilty on Monday to charges related to his role in a 'swatting' ring that targeted dozens of public officials, including a former US president. REUTERS One of their alleged victims is identified as a 'former elected official from the executive branch' who was swatted on Jan. 9. 2024, when Radovanovic falsely reported a murder at the home of the former president or vice president – who is not named in the indictment – and threatened to blow up the person's residence. Several of the victims were selected by Szabo, who directed Radovanovic to place the emergency calls targeting both Republicans and Democrats, according to the indictment. 'We are not on any side,' Szabo allegedly told Radovanovic. The menacing calls started around December 2020, when Szabo called a crisis intervention hotline and threatened to 'commit a mass shooting at multiple unspecified synagogues in New York City,' the indictment states. Around Jan. 17, 2021, Szabo allegedly called another crisis intervention hotline and threatened to detonate explosives at the US Capitol Building and kill then-President-elect Joe Biden. 3 Interim Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro (L) and US Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) look on as US President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 28, 2025. AFP via Getty Images The duo's last 'swatting' call listed in the indictment was placed by Radovanovic on Jan. 9, 2024, which reported a homicide at the home of a state governor. Szabo, who was extradited from Romania last November, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of making bomb threats. He is slated to be sentenced in a Washington, DC, federal court in October. 3 Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks at a news conference at the Justice Department, Feb. 12, 2025, in Washington. AP 'This defendant led a dangerous swatting criminal conspiracy, deliberately threatening dozens of government officials with violent hoaxes and targeting our nation's security infrastructure from behind a screen overseas,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. 'This case reflects our continued focus on protecting the American people and working with international partners to stop these threats at their source.' FBI Director Kash Patel declared that swatting 'will not be tolerated by the FBI.' 'Today, Szabo pleaded guilty to a years-long conspiracy that targeted victims with swatting and bomb threats, including to government buildings, houses of worship and homes of government officials,' Patel said in a statement. 'Swatting endangers lives and will not be tolerated by the FBI.' 'We are fully committed to working with our partners to bring to justice those criminals hiding behind keyboards and threatening violence.' Charges against Radovanovic are still pending.
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Romanian man pleads guilty to ‘swatting' plot that targeted an ex-US president and lawmakers
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Romanian citizen pleaded guilty on Monday to engaging in a plot to use 'swatting' calls and bomb threats to intimidate and threaten dozens of people with bogus police emergencies, including a former U.S. president and several members of Congress. Thomasz Szabo, 26, is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23 by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington, D.C. Szabo was extradited from Romania in November 2024. He was charged with Nemanja Radovanovic, 21, of Serbia. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Szabo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of making bomb threats. The two men targeted roughly 100 people with 'swatting' calls to instigate an aggressive response by police officers at the victims' homes, a federal indictment alleges. A U.S. Secret Service agent's affidavit doesn't name the former U.S. president or any other officials identified as victims of the hoax calls. The two defendants are not explicitly charged in the indictment with threatening a former president, but one of the alleged victims is identified as a 'former elected official from the executive branch' who was swatted on Jan. 9. 2024. Radovanovic falsely reported a killing and threatened to set off an explosion at that person's home, the indictment says. Szabo told Radovanovic that they should pick targets from both the Republican and Democratic parties because 'we are not on any side,' the indictment says. 'This defendant led a dangerous swatting criminal conspiracy, deliberately threatening dozens of government officials with violent hoaxes and targeting our nation's security infrastructure from behind a screen overseas,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. Charges against Radovanovic are still pending. Online court records indicate that he hasn't made any court appearances in Washington yet.
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Romanian man pleads guilty to 'swatting' plot that targeted an ex-US president and lawmakers
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Romanian citizen pleaded guilty on Monday to engaging in a plot to use 'swatting' calls and bomb threats to intimidate and threaten dozens of people with bogus police emergencies, including a former U.S. president and several members of Congress. Thomasz Szabo, 26, is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23 by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington, D.C. Szabo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of making bomb threats. The two men targeted roughly 100 people with 'swatting' calls to instigate an aggressive response by police officers at the victims' homes, a federal indictment alleges. A U.S. Secret Service agent's affidavit doesn't name the former U.S. president or any other officials identified as victims of the hoax calls. The two defendants are not explicitly charged in the indictment with threatening a former president, but one of the alleged victims is identified as a 'former elected official from the executive branch' who was swatted on Jan. 9. 2024. Radovanovic falsely reported a killing and threatened to set off an explosion at that person's home, the indictment says. Szabo told Radovanovic that they should pick targets from both the Republican and Democratic parties because 'we are not on any side,' the indictment says. 'This defendant led a dangerous swatting criminal conspiracy, deliberately threatening dozens of government officials with violent hoaxes and targeting our nation's security infrastructure from behind a screen overseas,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. Charges against Radovanovic are still pending. Online court records indicate that he hasn't made any court appearances in Washington yet.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Romanian man pleads guilty to 'swatting' plot that targeted an ex-US president and lawmakers
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Romanian citizen pleaded guilty on Monday to engaging in a plot to use 'swatting' calls and bomb threats to intimidate and threaten dozens of people with bogus police emergencies, including a former U.S. president and several members of Congress. Thomasz Szabo, 26, is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23 by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington, D.C. Szabo was extradited from Romania in November 2024. He was charged with Nemanja Radovanovic, 21, of Serbia. Szabo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of making bomb threats. The two men targeted roughly 100 people with 'swatting' calls to instigate an aggressive response by police officers at the victims' homes, a federal indictment alleges. A U.S. Secret Service agent's affidavit doesn't name the former U.S. president or any other officials identified as victims of the hoax calls. The two defendants are not explicitly charged in the indictment with threatening a former president, but one of the alleged victims is identified as a 'former elected official from the executive branch' who was swatted on Jan. 9. 2024. Radovanovic falsely reported a killing and threatened to set off an explosion at that person's home, the indictment says. Szabo told Radovanovic that they should pick targets from both the Republican and Democratic parties because 'we are not on any side,' the indictment says. 'This defendant led a dangerous swatting criminal conspiracy, deliberately threatening dozens of government officials with violent hoaxes and targeting our nation's security infrastructure from behind a screen overseas,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. Charges against Radovanovic are still pending. Online court records indicate that he hasn't made any court appearances in Washington yet.
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Romanian man pleads guilty to ‘swatting' plot that targeted an ex-US president and lawmakers
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Romanian citizen pleaded guilty on Monday to engaging in a plot to use 'swatting' calls and bomb threats to intimidate and threaten dozens of people with bogus police emergencies, including a former U.S. president and several members of Congress. Thomasz Szabo, 26, is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23 by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington, D.C. Szabo was extradited from Romania in November 2024. He was charged with Nemanja Radovanovic , 21, of Serbia. Szabo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of making bomb threats. The two men targeted roughly 100 people with 'swatting' calls to instigate an aggressive response by police officers at the victims' homes, a federal indictment alleges. A U.S. Secret Service agent's affidavit doesn't name the former U.S. president or any other officials identified as victims of the hoax calls. The two defendants are not explicitly charged in the indictment with threatening a former president, but one of the alleged victims is identified as a 'former elected official from the executive branch' who was swatted on Jan. 9. 2024. Radovanovic falsely reported a killing and threatened to set off an explosion at that person's home, the indictment says. Szabo told Radovanovic that they should pick targets from both the Republican and Democratic parties because 'we are not on any side,' the indictment says. 'This defendant led a dangerous swatting criminal conspiracy, deliberately threatening dozens of government officials with violent hoaxes and targeting our nation's security infrastructure from behind a screen overseas,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. Charges against Radovanovic are still pending. Online court records indicate that he hasn't made any court appearances in Washington yet. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
