My SWATting: Perpetrator Reaches Plea Agreement in Federal Felony Case UPDATE: Investigation Is Continuing

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A letter arrived by Federal Express today from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Washington D.C.:

Dear Mr. McCain:
We have learned that you are a victim of criminal activity involving conduct known as “swatting.” . . .
A federal investigation has revealed that several individuals participated in a scheme to commit swatting in the course of which these individuals committed various federal criminal offenses. You were a victim of criminal conduct which resulted in swattings in that you were swatted.
A federal investigation has reveal that several individuals participated in a scheme to commit doxing, in the course of which, these individuals committed various federal criminal offenses. Personal identifying information associated with you was posted on the website used by these individuals.
One of the individuals who participated in this scheme to commit doxing has been charged with the commission of a federal offense related to that activity. . . . This individual has agreed to accept responsibility for the commission of this offense and will be entering a guilty plea in Federal Court in Washington, D.C.
This letter is intended to notify you that you are a victim and that, as a victim, you have certain rights pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 3771. . .

Readers of this blog never previously knew that I was SWATted, because I never mentioned this incident. Nor have I described here the numerous ways in which I have been harassed — costing me thousands of dollars in lost revenue and harm to my personal and professional reputation — because I made up my mind to tell the truth about certain people who didn’t want the truth to be known.

“Never Doubt That God Answers Prayer,” and thanks to all the readers who know the Five Most Important Words in the English Language:

HIT THE FREAKING TIP JAR!




 

P.S.: Don’t jump to conclusions. I don’t know how (or even if) this SWATting is connected to the general pattern of harassment I have experienced since May 2012, and this incident occurred after I had moved from my former Maryland residence. Until I can get more information and provide it to readers, I ask that commenters refrain from speculation about who was involved in this federal crime, or what their motive might have been to target me. Speaking personally, however, I don’t believe in coincidences. — RSM

UPDATE (1:30 p.m. EDT): Just spoke to an official who explained that (a) the indictment is “under seal”; (b) the perpetrator who has reached a plea agreement cannot be named; and (c) the investigation is continuing. From this we may surmise, based upon knowledge of similar cases, that the perpetrator has made a full confession and is cooperating with the continuing investigation of his or her co-conspirators.

By the time the full scope of this conspiracy becomes public, it is likely that we we learn a great deal about the methods by which these criminals operate. Let it be known that the feds are getting serious about prosecuting “SWATting,” and the associated activity of “doxing.” Let justice be done. Let the guilty fear punishment for their crimes, so that the innocent need never fear. — RSM

 

80 comments

  4. Indeed. My thoughts and prayers go out to McCain and his family. Hopefully this is the break needed for many such cases of SWATing.

  5. Is this awesome or what gives me hope that my 7 year nightmare of cyber-stalking and harassment will come to an end.

  10. Is somebody gonna roll over and squeal like a rat, or are they gonna be a sapling and ride the freight to the big hoosegow and take the rapper up the pooter hole?

  11. I have heard from a famous investigative reporter that criminals often turn on each other even if they don’t know who really did it. As a matter of fact, this investigative reporter often sends little missives to his targets threatening them with jail unless they tell him what he wants to know even if it’s not the truth just to confirm his already drawn conclusions.

  13. Any truth to the rumor that the accused is being represented by the esteemed lawyers RogerS and Mark in MD?

  14. Hmmm…
    So doxing & SWATing are finally against the law!

    Good news, that!

    At least, civilized people will think so… Proggies, not so much— which I can understand: it makes life difficult when one of a movement’s favorite orthodoxy-enforcement tools is removed from the toolbox. ;~)?

  15. Nice to finally see some progress being made on this front. I hope thye round the entire lot of them up.

  17. I look forward to hearing more about this, but I suspect that will take months if not a year plus.

  19. What I understand the letter to mean is that the perpetrators went from doxing to SWATing, and that’s what got them in trouble. Doxing is not against the law. That’s simply revealing someone’s real name, address, etc. It’s the SWATing that’s illegal: making a false emergency call.

  20. Doxing covers a multitude of sins, many far less innocuous than just someone’s real name and contact info, and some of them are indeed against the law.

    Finding my SS# and putting it out on your web page is illegal. Publishing my unlisted phone number and information on my minor children such as their names, descriptions and schools is illegal.

    Saying “Commenter X is really Joe Schmoe” is not illegal. And even when stuff isn’t of itself illegal, if it’s being published in a way that is obviously meant to invite others to harass and/or threaten Joe and his family it is probably crossing the legality line too.

    I’ve had a certain cretin publish a book which is still available on Amazon with my full legal name and street address along with commentary telling people what an awful person I am because I’ve said mean things about him (though nothing compared to what he’s said about me). It’s pretty obvious that the only reason he did that to me (and several others in the same “book”) is at a minimum an attempt at shutuppery, and preferrentially to get others to join in his harassment.

  21. Given the timing, I’m assuming the same persons were involved in yours
    that were involved in mine. Very pleased in either case to see justice
    done at last!

  22. Yup, I have a whole blog entry devoted to all my various criminal activities including an indictment for human trafficking. Of course the blog has no such indictment. But trolls like Thomas A Mix of Vero Beach and anon stalker @NicoleBonnet peddle that I am a convicted felon.

    Maps have been post to my home with a link to that page. Local Law Enforcement has advised to to get a personal protection dog.

  23. Get a Mossberg breed. They’re cheaper to keep, you don’t have to walk them, and quite cathartic.

  24. Good to hear. Better to know (at some point) who the crew was, and that they’ll be out of commission for it.

  26. Fascinating. I hope that the law will make the identities of the perpetrators known. Seems RSM could sue the perpetrators, if they had anything to pay judgments with. Looking forward to the Frog March Ballet, when these cretins finally dance into their cells.

  28. No kiddin’!!

    Glad you & your family are safe, Stacy. I hope you are eventually compensated by these scumbags for the distress they have caused you, and that they spend some serious time in prison.

  30. I’m not surprised that they (whoever) did this. I am surprised, however, that they beat your countermeasure of moving to your undisclosed location – you were clearly expecting an attempt. The fact that your new abode isn’t common public knowledge narrows the possible suspects considerably. I do understand, from seeing what happened to Aaron Worthing, that addresses on legal documents are shared with the adversarial party.

  31. Don’t really wish to be a Debbie Downer here but reality must be paid attention to.

    Stace; this is a Federal Government agency, a part of a very disreputable Department within a demonstrably incompetent if not malfeasant administration. Do you really entertain the thought that they will follow the law let alone obtain justice and deter further crime? This most likely is the first steps in a ploy to first Cover Their Asses, second to start the process of protecting the miscreant and thirdly a complete and silent sweep under the rug of the entire incident and any other discovered incidents.

    They have zero reason for pursuing this in a competent manner otherwise certain individuals with certain contacts and knowledge could see the advantage of coming forth and finding a friendly journolist with whom to divulge harmful disclosures about others or at least present the threat of doing so.

    I await the results and hope for the best but expect the worst.

  32. I pray you and your family stay safe, McCain. Secrets are sometimes necessary, kudos to you for keeping this under your hat. And I can’t wait for the day when the perps’ identities are released.

  33. They won’t tell you the name? Or you’re not allowed to publicly name the person at this time?

  35. Certain Congresscritters were very interested in seeing something done about these SWATtings. The Administration will go away. Congresscritters may not. A smart DOJ drone will toss them a bone now and again. Job security, dontcha know.

    That said there are also still some good peeps in that biz. It is a career thing.

  36. So the name is under seal and you don’t want us to speculate which is fair enough. However, I would LOVE to take a peek at the aforementioned website where this info was posted (with your personal info redacted of course). Is that possible?

  37. You keep prodding the hornets’ nest with all of your well researched facts and logic. How else can they be expected to respond to such hate? Rational debate? LOL!

  39. I know this is serious business and am glad the McCains are safe.

    Given Stacy’s sense of humor though, I can’t help but visualize this letter framed on his office wall with a plaque below it reading something like

    “Some asshole internet troll terrorized my family and myself by misappropriation of federal resources and all I got was this lousy letter from a beaurocrat making me an official member of the victim class cult.
    Where are your Bona Fides, Ms. Penny Laurie?”

    🙂

  44. These nuts are nothing if not determined.

    Legal documents don’t necessarily require an actual residential physical address. Nevertheless, obfuscating one’s actual location is much more difficult than most people realize and requires careful attention to actual physical address information not being provided to; drivers license/DPS, vehicle registration/DMV, property deeds/records, insurance, voters registration, banks/credit card companies, credit bureaus, online purchasing entities such as Amazon, etc etc etc. Not to mention getting utilities and leases under an assumed name not associated in any way to your SSN. You slip on any of those, and you can be located by someone who knows what they’re doing or by someone simply willing to pay a private investigator with access to the appropriate systems.

  46. The really juicy thing about it is that, while these internet bullies do their dirty deeds as a pack, now there’ll be a scramble not to be the last one standing when the prosecutor stops the musical chairs plea dealing.
    These ?©ksuckers are going to be throwing each other under the bus faster than you can say Yosemite Sam.

  47. Good news, but a question from the ignorant here.
    Because you have been “swatted” in the past does the local police know to be cautious to future calls saying ‘woman screaming/man shouting/shots fired”? A success if bowling over one set of assholes might put you on the radar of another, thats all.

    And I do understand completely if you dont want to answer that.
    Does anyone else have any idea if police can check past swatting victims?

  50. My understanding is that federal victims have the right to attend sentencing hearings and make a statement. It might be worth a trip to DC to get it all on the record. It’s been evident there was more going on that was published, at least since Stacy moved.

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