USAO: Virginia man pleads guilty to cyberstalking and swatting charges

BALTIMORE, Md. (DC News Now) — A Virginia man pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday for his role in filing false police reports to multiple Maryland police departments, according to the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Maryland.

Evan Strauss, 27, of Moneta, Virginia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, cyberstalking, interstate threatening communications, and threats to damage or destroy using fire and explosives.

Court documents outline that Strauss, along with three others, belonged to an online group known as the “Purgatory.” Using several social media platforms, including Telegram and Instagram, the group orchestrated swatting and doxxing activities and bragged online about successful swats they conducted.

The USAO states that from December 2023 through January 2024, Strauss and his collaborators made false swatting calls to police in Maryland. Using systems like Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), they created shared scripts to conduct these false claims to various emergency response departments.

Incidents included in the guilty plea:

• A lockdown at Newark High School in Delaware due to false active shooter claims
• False threats to burn down part of an Alabama trailer park
• False bomb and shooting threat at the Albany International Airport

According to the USAO, Strauss is facing up to 10 years in prison per count as they relate to explosives or fire, and up to five years for conspiracy, cyberstalking, and interstate threats.

Strauss’ co-conspirators Owen Jarboe, 19, of Hagerstown, Maryland, and Brayden Grace, 19, of Columbus, Ohio, have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting their sentences.

Strauss is scheduled to be sentenced on November 6 at 10 a.m.