Romanian leader of online swatting ring gets 4 years in prison

**Executive summary:** Thomasz Szabo led an online swatting ring that targeted over 75 public officials, journalists, and religious institutions with false emergency calls and bomb threats; he was extradited from Romania, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and explosive threats, and was sentenced to four years in U.S. federal prison. The campaign, conducted under multiple aliases and with followers, produced concentrated swatting attacks against members of Congress, senior officials, and law enforcement between late 2020 and early 2024, posing significant public-safety risks and draining law enforcement resources.