On Monday, two Romanians entered guilty pleas related to their involvement in a “swatting” operation that affected numerous civil servants, including a former U.S. president.
Thomas Zabo, 26, who also uses the names “Planck,” “Jona,” and “Cipher,” allegedly made emergency threats against both government officials and buildings. According to the Judiciary Department, he has claimed to be part of a plot involving these threats.
Zabo, alongside his co-conspirator, 21-year-old Serbian Nemanja Radovanovic, reportedly targeted about 100 individuals, which included members of parliament, governors, and various state officials.
One notable incident involved Radovanovic mistakenly reporting a murder on January 9, 2024, linked to a former elected official. This was purportedly paired with a threat to detonate an explosive at the official’s residence.
Evidence suggests that Zabo was responsible for selecting individuals to target, instructing Radovanovic to make emergency calls aimed at both Republican and Democratic officials.
“We’re not taking sides,” Zabo allegedly told Radovanovic.
The harassment began in December 2020 when Zabo called a crisis hotline, issuing threats of mass shootings at unspecified synagogues in New York City. Then, around January 17, 2021, he reportedly called another hotlines, claiming an explosion had occurred in the Capitol and issued threats against then-presidential candidate Joe Biden.
The last “swatting” incident attributed to the duo took place on January 9, 2024, when Radovanovic reported a murder at a governor’s residence.
Zabo, who was extradited from Romania last November, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of making bomb threats. He is due to be sentenced in federal court in Washington, D.C., this October.
Attorney General Pam Bondy noted that Zabo led a dangerous conspiracy, deliberately threatening numerous government officials and jeopardizing national security from abroad. She emphasized the ongoing commitment to protect Americans and collaborate with international partners to address such threats.
FBI Director Kash Patel remarked that such actions are “not tolerated by the FBI.” He stated that Zabo’s plea exemplifies the ongoing efforts to hold accountable those who hide behind screens while threatening violence.
Charges against Radovanovic are still pending.
