eCrimeBytes Nibble #2: Washington Man Indicted As Serial Swatter

Welcome to eCrimeBytes Nibble #2!

 

Video: https://youtu.be/OZg_yRMdkV4 

Ever heard of swatting? Swatting is the act of calling a false emergency such as an active shooting or hostage situation. The address of the fake emergency is usually a victim's home, school, or work. Swatting is usually used as intimidation. Stick around to hear a case about a 20 year old that swatted over 20 times across the US and Canada.

A federal indictment claims Ashton Connor Garcia, 20, made more than 20 “swatting” calls to law enforcement between June and September 2022.

It's alleged that Garcia targeted victims in California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Garcia gathered personal information about his victims and then threatened them with harm, demanded money, sexually explicit materials. Sounds like a real piece of work.

Garcia used voice-over internet technology to disguise his voice, and used false identities to make fake reports to non-emergency police numbers. He falsely claimed to have placed explosives in particular locations, as well as claim individuals committed crimes such as murder, rape and kidnapping.

Voice over IP phones are virtual phones on the internet that have a phone number. The can text and

make voice calls.

We talked about swatting in eCrimeBytes S 1 Ep 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7!

eCrimeBytes S 1, Ep 1: The Community

eCrimeBytes S 1, Ep 2: Swatting Gets Deadly

eCrimeBytes S 1, Ep 3: Violence As A Service With ”PatTheBat”

eCrimeBytes S 1, Ep 5: PlugwalkJoe

eCrimeBytes S 1, Ep 7: Swatting Payback In Maryland

You can also look at the swatting category on my blog for more info:

https://drkeithjones.com/index.php/category/swatting/