FBI Director Kash Patel sent a clear message to criminals hiding behind computer screens overseas.
A Romanian mastermind thought he could terrorize American leaders without consequences.
And Kash Patel just delivered justice to one foreign criminal who made this unthinkable threat against America.
Foreign criminal wages war on America’s leaders
Thomasz Szabo thought he could hide behind his computer screen in Romania while wreaking havoc across the United States.
The 26-year-old, who went by the online aliases “Plank,” “Jonah,” and “Cypher,” led one of the most extensive swatting operations in American history.
“Swatting” is when criminals make bogus emergency calls to send armed police units to innocent people’s homes.
It’s not just a prank – it’s a dangerous crime that can result in serious injury or death when heavily armed SWAT teams respond to fake threats.
Szabo didn’t just target random victims.
He specifically went after the people who serve our country at the highest levels.
According to the Department of Justice, Szabo’s criminal network targeted over 75 public officials, four religious institutions, and multiple journalists in a nationwide campaign of terror.
The scope of the attacks was staggering
According to federal prosecutors, Szabo founded an online criminal ring in late 2020 that specialized in bomb threats and swatting attacks.
As the leader of this digital mob, he made some of the most serious threats himself.
In December 2020, he called in a threat to commit a mass shooting at New York City synagogues.
Just weeks later in January 2021, he threatened to detonate explosives at the U.S. Capitol and kill President-elect Donald Trump.
But Szabo wasn’t content to operate alone.
He actively encouraged his followers to join in the attacks and even publicized his criminal activities to inspire more violence.
The criminal rampage intensified during the holiday season, beginning December 24, 2023, and stretching into early January 2024.
During this period, Szabo’s subordinates unleashed a wave of terror that hit America’s most important leaders.
The targets included at least 25 Members of Congress or their family members, six current or former senior Executive Branch officials including multiple cabinet-level officials, and 13 current or former senior federal law enforcement officials.
Even members of the federal judiciary weren’t safe from these attacks.
The criminal network also targeted 27 current or former state government officials or their family members, along with four religious institutions and multiple members of the media.
Taxpayers footed the bill for this criminal’s sick game
One of Szabo’s subordinates bragged about the damage they were inflicting on America.
“I did 25+ swattings today,” the criminal boasted to Szabo, adding that they were “creating massive havoc in America.”
The subordinate went on to brag that they had wasted “$500,000+ in taxpayers” money “in just two days.”
That’s the real cost of these attacks – not just the terror inflicted on victims and their families, but the massive drain on public resources.
Every fake emergency call requires a response from police, SWAT teams, bomb squads, and other first responders.
These are the same resources that should be available to respond to real emergencies and protect American communities.
Instead, they were being wasted on the sick fantasies of foreign criminals.
Justice finally catches up
Attorney General Pam Bondi made it clear that this kind of attack on America won’t be tolerated.
“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,” Bondi stated.
FBI Director Kash Patel also weighed in on the significance of the case.
“Swatting endangers lives and will not be tolerated by the FBI,” Patel declared. “We are fully committed to working with our partners to bring to justice those criminals hiding behind keyboards and threatening violence.”
Szabo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and one count of threats involving explosives, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
His sentencing is scheduled for October 23.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia emphasized the serious nature of these crimes.
“This defendant’s targeted and ruthless behavior put countless people in danger, including law enforcement, public officials, and ordinary citizens,” Pirro said. “Swatting attacks, that is, falsely reporting an ongoing threat of violence at a victims’ home address for the purpose of provoking a police response there, drain precious resources and can result in major injury or even death.”
International cooperation brings results
This case shows what can happen when American law enforcement works with international partners to track down criminals who think they can hide overseas.
Szabo was extradited from Romania in November 2024 after extensive cooperation between U.S. and Romanian authorities.
The investigation involved multiple federal agencies including the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and U.S. Capitol Police.
Romanian authorities played a critical role in making sure Szabo couldn’t escape justice by hiding in his home country.
This should send a clear message to other would-be criminals around the world – you can’t terrorize Americans from overseas and expect to get away with it.
The case also highlights the continuing threat of foreign actors trying to destabilize America through cybercrimes and digital terrorism.
While Szabo’s criminal network has been dismantled, law enforcement officials remain vigilant against similar threats.
American leaders at all levels – from Congress to state government to religious institutions – deserve to serve without fear of these kinds of attacks.
The successful prosecution of Szabo and his network shows that justice will eventually catch up with those who try to terrorize Americans.
