scheme that involved using AT&T employee passwords and identities to place false 911

calls to emergency dispatch centers. The man is facing up to five years in prison and a

$250,000 fine after pleading guilty to charges of harassing people by tricking 911

operators into dispatching police SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) teams to the

homes of unsuspecting victims. He was part of a group of about 15 to 20 people who

met in chat rooms and telephone party lines to exchange information on how to conduct

their attacks, according to court documents. The Ohio man is considered the lead

defendant in a federal case against members of the group. Two other members have pled

guilty, and two others are still facing trial. Virtually unknown until recently, “swatting”

gained national attention last month when a 19 year-old was arrested after allegedly

dispatching a SWAT team to the home of an unsuspecting couple in Orange County,

California. That incident cost county officials nearly $20,000. On Friday, the 19-yearold

pled not guilty to charges stemming from the March 29 incident. He is not believed

to be connected with the other ‘swatter’ group, which has been connected to about 60

incidents, including one in January 2007, according to a detective with the Snohomish

County Sherriff’s Office in Washington State.

Source:

http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/11/20/Swatters-tricked-ATT-while-making-fake-911-calls_1.html