Owen Jarboe, a 19-year-old from Hagerstown, Maryland, has pleaded guilty to federal charges involving conspiracy, cyberstalking, interstate threatening communications, and threats of damage or destruction using fire and explosives. U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Kelly O. Hayes, made the announcement along with William J. DelBagno, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Baltimore Field Office.
Court documents reveal that between December 2023 and January 18, 2024, Jarboe and his associates orchestrated swatting calls to police and emergency services across the United States. Swatting is a criminal harassment tactic involving falsely reporting emergencies to elicit a response from law enforcement or emergency personnel.
Jarboe was involved in establishing an online group called "Purgatory," using platforms like Telegram and Instagram to organize swatting incidents. They obscured their identities using shared scripts. Some swatting incidents included threats to a trailer park in Alabama, a Delaware high school, and bomb threats at locations like Albany International Airport in New York.
"Swatting is a very serious offense – one that can easily become dangerous for law enforcement and the victims involved," stated U.S. Attorney Hayes. DelBagno added, "Jarboe’s crimes are despicable and dangerous. He put our brave first responders and countless innocent lives at risk."
Jarboe faces a maximum sentence of five years per count for conspiracy, cyberstalking, and interstate threats, and ten years for threats related to fire and explosives. Actual sentencing is typically lower than the maximum, as a federal judge considers U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutory factors. The sentencing is scheduled for July 23.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert I. Goldaris and Patricia C. McLane are prosecuting the case. Hayes also praised various law enforcement agencies for their contributions to the investigation.
