California man convicted for making hoax bomb threats and swatting incidents sentenced to 4 years in federal prison.

Alan Filion, an 18-year-old from California, has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for making over 375 swatting and threat calls across the country, including Florida.

Alan W. Filion, 18, of Lancaster, Calif., pleaded guilty to making false threats of mass violence, which prosecutors said prompted large police deployments and, in some cases, unnecessary detentions.

Alan Filion, 18, targeted religious institutions, high schools, colleges and universities, and government officials with fake threat calls.

Calling Alan W. Filion “a serial swatter for both profit and recreation,” prosecutors said he posted about his swatting experiences online.

Alan Winston Filion, 18, of Lancaster, California was sentenced to 4 years in prison for making the threat in May 2023 against Masjid Al Hayy Mosque.

A California teenager was sentenced to 48 months in prison on Tuesday following a series of interstate threats to injure individuals across the country. Alan W. Filion, 18, of Lancaster, Calif., made more than 375 swatting and threat calls to authorities in which he claimed to have planted bombs,