BALTIMORE, MD—A Maryland man has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to his role in a swatting conspiracy that targeted law enforcement and emergency services across the United States.
Owen Jarboe, 19, of Hagerstown, admitted to participating in a swatting scheme from December 2023 to January 18, 2024, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. Swatting involves falsely reporting an emergency to deceive authorities into dispatching a police or emergency response team to a victim’s location.
Jarboe and his co-conspirators used online platforms, including Telegram and Instagram, to coordinate their activities and boast about their actions. They created an online group called “Purgatory” and often used shared scripts to hide their identities.
The group’s swatting calls included threats to burn down a residential trailer park in Alabama, shoot a teacher and students at a Delaware high school, and make false reports of multiple homicides and shooting threats at various locations. These included threats against a residence in Eastman, Georgia, and bombing and shooting threats of Albany International Airport in New York and an Ohio casino.
“Swatting is a very serious offense — one that can easily become dangerous for law enforcement and the victims involved,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes. “Emergency personnel work hard every day to ensure that first responders are dispatched to render aid to those who truly need it. Mr. Jarboe and his co-conspirators’ actions showed a complete disregard for law enforcement, the victims, and those who actually needed emergency assistance during these incidents.”
Jarboe faces up to five years in federal prison for each count of conspiracy, cyberstalking, and interstate threat. He could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years for each charge related to threats to damage or destroy by fire and explosives. Sentencing is scheduled for July 23, 2025.
FBI Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno condemned Jarboe’s actions, stating, “Jarboe’s crimes are despicable and dangerous. He put our brave first responders and countless innocent lives at risk while creating unnecessary fear in many different communities.” DelBagno also stated that “Jarboe’s guilty plea shows that the FBI will not tolerate swatting or hoax threats and will make sure anyone committing these crimes is found and charged to the full extent of the law.”
This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.
Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels
Do you value local journalism? Support NottinghamMD.com today.
