Conservative “influencers” being swatted

[1032004]

I hope they find and prosecute whoever is responsible for these incidents.  I’m OK with attempted murder even.

But something seems odd about them.  I’ve never heard of some of these people.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they were doing it to themselves to create outrage (and gain followers).  One recent victim even works for a camera company, and of course posted the footage as a convenient advertisement.

Do you think we will ever get names of those accused to have made the calls?

[Bigbrog]

Is there a link or something as to what you are talking about?

[jross]

x.com

As of March 17, 2025, several individuals, particularly conservative media figures and influencers, have publicly claimed they are being targeted by swatting incidents. Here’s a rundown of notable claimants based on recent reports and posts on X:

• Catturd (@catturd2): A prominent pro-Trump X user with over 3.4 million followers, Catturd has reported being swatted multiple times. He stated on March 14, 2025, that his fourth swatting occurred the previous night, describing it as a recurring issue. He’s noted that local police, familiar with his situation due to past incidents, quickly recognized the latest call as a hoax and responded minimally.
• Chase Geiser (@realchasegeiser): An Infowars host, Geiser claimed he was swatted twice within 12 hours on March 12, 2025. He shared a video on X showing an armed police response at his home, describing being handcuffed in the street after a fake call alleging he threatened to kill his family.
• Gunther Eagleman (@GuntherEagleman): A social media influencer, Eagleman posted on X on March 13, 2025, that his house was swatted with a fake hostage situation report. He emphasized his family’s safety and good relations with law enforcement, who added extra patrols.
• Joe Pagliarulo (@JoeTalkShow): A Texas-based radio host, Pagliarulo reported being swatted in the early hours of March 12, 2025. He recounted nearly confronting an officer—mistaking him for an intruder—with his own guns, only learning from 911 that it was a false disturbance call.
• Nick Sortor (@nicksortor): A conservative podcaster, Sortor claimed on March 13, 2025, via X that both his father and sister were swatted that day. He described police attempting to enter his father’s home at gunpoint after a call falsely alleging his father was killing his family.
• Larry Taunton (@LarryTaunton): On March 17, 2025, posts on X indicated Taunton, a commentator who recently documented a USAID compound visit in Egypt and shared a Mar-a-Lago photo, was swatted that morning, marking him as the latest victim in this wave.
• Shawn Farash: A conservative host, Farash posted on X that he and his wife were swatted on March 13, 2025, reassuring followers of their safety and vowing to identify the perpetrators.

These claims align with a reported surge in swatting targeting conservative figures, prompting FBI Director Kash Patel to announce an investigation on March 14, 2025, calling it a “dangerous trend.” News outlets like Newsweek, Fox News, and the Daily Mail have covered this spike, noting the involvement of MAGA-aligned personalities.

However, some intermat users, have questioned the authenticity of these incidents, arguing that videos show regular police, not SWAT teams, suggesting exaggeration—though this skepticism lacks substantiation beyond personal observation.

 

[jross]

Here are some notable cases where swatters have been caught and faced legal consequences, based on documented incidents:

1. Tyler Raj Barriss (2017 Wichita Swatting Death)
   In December 2017, Tyler Barriss, a 25-year-old from Los Angeles, made a hoax call to Wichita, Kansas police, falsely reporting a shooting and hostage situation. The call stemmed from a "Call of Duty" gaming dispute, where Barriss was given a wrong address by another gamer. Police responded, and an officer fatally shot 28-year-old Andrew Finch, an innocent resident, at the doorstep. Barriss, known online as "SWAuTistic," was arrested in January 2018. He pleaded guilty to 51 federal charges, including involuntary manslaughter, and was sentenced in March 2019 to 20 years in prison—the longest sentence for a swatter at that time. This case highlighted swatting’s deadly potential and spurred calls for tougher laws.
2. Alan Winston Filion (Nationwide Swatting Spree)
   Alan Filion, an 18-year-old from Lancaster, California, was arrested in January 2024 and extradited to Florida. He allegedly made over 375 swatting calls targeting schools, religious institutions, and homes across the U.S., including a May 2023 threat to a mosque in Sanford, Florida, where he claimed to have weapons and intent for a mass shooting. Filion, who used the alias "Torswats," turned swatting into a for-profit scheme, advertising services online. He pleaded guilty in November 2024 to four federal counts of interstate threats and was sentenced in February 2025 to four years in prison. His case showed how swatters exploit technology and social media for profit.
3. Shane Sonderman (2020 Tennessee Swatting Death)
   Shane Sonderman, an 18-year-old from Tennessee, was part of a swatting scheme targeting a 60-year-old grandfather, Mark Herring, in 2020. The group made a fake distress call, leading police to Herring’s home, where he suffered a fatal heart attack during the response. Sonderman was linked via his "FreeTheSoldiers" Instagram account, used to harass victims. Arrested after violating release terms by resuming swatting, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced in July 2021 to five years in prison. Prosecutors noted his bipolar disorder but emphasized the crime’s severity, though some felt the sentence was lenient compared to Barriss’s.
4. Ashton Connor Garcia (Swatting as Entertainment)
   Ashton Garcia, a 21-year-old from Bremerton, Washington, was sentenced in June 2024 to three years in federal prison. Between 2021 and 2022, he made 20 swatting calls across the U.S. and Canada, livestreaming police responses on Discord for entertainment. Labeled a "cyber-terrorist" by prosecutors, Garcia’s calls included fake bomb threats and shootings. Arrested after an extensive investigation, he pleaded guilty to multiple charges of interstate threats. His case underscored swatting’s performative aspect within online communities.
5. Mir Islam (Multiple Swattings, Including Brian Krebs)
   Mir Islam, a hacker and swatter, targeted over 20 people, including cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs, between 2012 and 2014. Using caller ID spoofing, he triggered armed police responses nationwide. Arrested as part of a broader cybercrime probe, Islam pleaded guilty to swatting-related charges and was sentenced in July 2016 to two years in prison. His case raised legal questions about prosecuting swatting under existing cybercrime statutes, given its blend of digital and physical harm.

These cases illustrate how swatters are caught—often through digital forensics (IP tracing, subpoenaed online records), victim reporting, or their own boasting online. Penalties range from a few years to decades, depending on outcomes like death or injury, reflecting swatting’s status as a felony under laws like 18 U.S.C. § 1038 (false information and hoaxes). The FBI’s growing database, announced in 2023, and local efforts like Seattle’s swatting registry have aided investigations, though many swatters still evade capture due to sophisticated anonymity tactics. 

[Bigbrog]

Ahhh...got it now...thanks @jross!

[Caveira]

 

  On 3/17/2025 at 1:55 PM, jross said:

Tyler Raj Barriss (2017 Wichita Swatting Death)

Expand  

There is a pretty fantastic documentary on Netflix about this.  Horrible person that guy is. 

[1032004]

Speaking of gaining followers, this is the guy that works for the camera company:

 

 

[Tripnsweep]

Not that it's the same thing, it's similar, but there was a person or persons, who for a while would call various fast food places and convince the managers that they were the police and get them to strip search female employees. I think they did catch one guy doing it. There was a very sad case of it happening here where the store manager acted like an idiot. 

[Caveira]

  On 3/17/2025 at 8:08 PM, Tripnsweep said:

Not that it's the same thing, it's similar, but there was a person or persons, who for a while would call various fast food places and convince the managers that they were the police and get them to strip search female employees. I think they did catch one guy doing it. There was a very sad case of it happening here where the store manager acted like an idiot. 

Expand  

I know a guy and a gal that while on vacation ate at one of those restaurants.  They didn’t see anything but they said the manager acted like an idiot.   I said to call the authorities.