Alan Filion, a 17-year-old Californian, is being prosecuted in Florida for his role in several swatting events that occurred around the country. According to the Seminole County State Attorney’s Office, Filion, a “serial swatter,” was extradited to Florida on January 30 to stand trial for charges about a particular incident that targeted a mosque.
For almost two decades, the FBI has been concerned about swatting, a dangerous prank that entails filing false complaints to law enforcement to prompt a massive police reaction to a bogus crime. The strategy became well-known due to events involving celebrities, but in recent times, it has taken on a more political bent, with targets including state and federal capital buildings, federal judges, and even the White House.
The Florida case is based on an incident that occurred in May 2023 in the Masjid Al Hayy Mosque in Sanford, Florida, when Filion is accused of threatening a mass massacre. During the call, Filion allegedly declared his intention to “commit a mass shooting in the name of Satan” and claimed to have a firearm and explosive devices, according to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. About thirty law enforcement officers responded to the mosque in response to the report, which included hearing shooting.
It is said that Filion’s actions went beyond this one instance. He threatened to blow up military sites and the Pentagon with bombs, and he specifically targeted mosques, historically Black colleges, FBI offices, and agents, according to the Seminole County State Attorney’s Office.
The FBI, the Department of Justice, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office worked together to trace the 911 call from the mosque back to Filion’s home in Lancaster, California. According to investigations, Filion had made many swatting service accounts, each of which had a connection to his residential address. Following the execution of a search order in July 2023, Filion was taken into custody on January 18.
Filion is facing accusations as an adult, including one case of unlawful use of a two-way communication device and three counts of false reporting, all of which are connected to acts of prejudice and terrorism. Filion has entered a not guilty plea, but he is still being held in detention, and his lawyer has not commented on the matter.
Dennis Lemma, the sheriff for Seminole County, stressed the serious dangers of swatting, emphasizing how it can jeopardize innocent lives and squander vital law enforcement resources. Lemma reinforced the joint efforts of law enforcement, the judiciary, and policing partners to address swatting instances by reaffirming law enforcement’s commitment to upholding community safety and pursuing individuals accountable for such crimes.
