Andover Teen Hacker Sentenced for Nationwide Swatting Spree

ANDOVER, MA — An Andover teenager who moonlighted as "the leader of a group of online hackers" and made a series of swatting threats across the country has been sentenced to four years in state custody, authorities announced Wednesday. The 17-year-old's name was not released due to his age.

Police said the teen used anonymous Internet service providers to make hoax threats against individuals in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and Florida earlier this year.

Some of the threats were directed at Massachusetts residents in Woburn and Wilmington, police said. The teen also made threats to IMAX theaters in Natick and Reading, police said.

Authorities raided the teen's Andover residence after an investigation involving the FBI and Homeland Security.

"Investigators located an anonabox router – a device that allows a user to anonymously connect to the Internet — in the suspect’s bedroom," police said in a statement. "Numerous digital devices were seized for forensic examination, which revealed evidence of online messaging between a group of online hackers talking about bomb threats they had conducted.

"The investigation determined that the teenager was the leader of a group of online hackers who used anonymous Internet service providers to conduct bomb threats and swatting calls across the United States. Investigators interviewed the teenager, who admitted to destroying evidence just prior to police conducting the search warrant."

The teen last month pleaded guilty to making bomb threats and conspiracy. Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodget said his office asked for a 3- to 5-year state prison sentence. A judge sentenced to teen to remain in the custody of the state Department of Youth Services until his 21st birthday.

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