When It Goes Federal
Although many swatting cases proceed in state court, federal charges can apply—especially if an interstate communication or a terrorism-type hoax is alleged. 18 U.S.C. §1038 (False Information and Hoaxes) penalizes conduct intended to convey false or misleading information about certain serious offenses, with penalties up to 5 years, or up to 20 years if serious bodily injury results. The Congressional Research Service specifically lists §1038 among statutes used in swatting cases. Legal Information InstituteCongress.gov+1
Why This Matters
Swatting isn’t a prank—it’s a public-safety landmine. The kinetic risk to bystanders, officers, and the swatted victim spikes when responders are primed for an active shooter. Here, LASD deputies determined the report was false and de-escalated—avoiding tragedy—but they still must devote investigative resources to chase an anonymous caller who forced a high-risk tactical response.
What Comes Next
Expect detectives to move quickly for preservation orders and subpoenas to lock down call-routing and account logs, triangulate any registered 911 location data, and track upstream carriers. If the caller used a spoofing app or VoIP portal, account and payment records—paired with IP logs—often identify the human behind the hoax. The enforcement message is clear: California’s statutes allow jail time, fines, and restitution—and if the facts fit, federal prosecutors have tools, too.
DDG has called the incident a near-death experience; his team says they will cooperate fully with law enforcement to find the caller.
