A man from Washington state has admitted to making more than 20 false emergency calls, also known as “swatting,” in various locations in the United States and Canada. These calls included false reports of bombings, shootings, and other dangerous situations, resulting in unnecessary emergency responses. The man pleaded guilty to four charges on Thursday.

Ashton Garcia, 21, pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to two counts of extortion and two counts of threats and hoaxes regarding explosives, U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman said in a news release. He was initially charged with 10 felony counts.

According to federal prosecutors, Garcia utilized voice-over-internet technology to hide his identity while making calls in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, he encouraged others to tune in as he streamed the calls on Discord, a social media platform.

In multiple instances, Garcia obtained personal information from his targets and used it to coerce them into giving him money, credit card details, or sexually explicit images by threatening to send emergency services to their residences.

According to prosecutors, law enforcement arrived and searched certain residences while holding weapons and took individuals into custody.

The individual also made false reports of bomb threats for the Fox News channel in Cleveland, Ohio and a flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles. On a separate occasion, he demanded $200,000 in Bitcoin to avoid bombing an airport in Los Angeles.

These false claims can have fatal consequences. In 2017, a law enforcement officer in Wichita, Kansas fatally shot a man after being dispatched to a fake emergency call.

It is not specified in the indictment how authorities identified Garcia as a potential suspect. As part of his plea deal, prosecutors are suggesting that Garcia, who is from Bremerton, be sentenced to four years in prison. His sentencing is set for April.

According to prosecutors, Garcia contacted agencies in various locations including Washington, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Edmonton in Alberta, Canada.

Garcia is currently incarcerated at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac, Washington.

Source: wral.com