Federal grand jury indicts three in tri-state swatting conspiracy — Police car - File photo

BALTIMORE, MD — A federal grand jury in Baltimore has issued a superseding indictment against three individuals for their involvement in a series of cyberstalking and threatening incidents across multiple states.

Owen Jarboe, 18, of Hagerstown, Maryland; Evan Strauss, 26, of Moneta, Virginia; and Brayden Grace, 18, of Columbus, Ohio, face charges including conspiracy, cyberstalking, interstate threatening communications, and threats to damage or destroy property by means of fire and explosives.

The charges stem from a string of incidents from December 2023 to January 2024, including a shooting threat at Newark High School and other menacing activities nationwide.

The trio, allegedly part of an online group named “Purgatory,” used social media platforms like Telegram and Instagram to coordinate their swatting activities, which involved making false reports to emergency services to provoke a heavy police response.

Specific incidents cited in the indictment include threats to burn down a trailer park in Alabama, a combined shooting and bomb threat at Albany International Airport, and threats against a casino in Ohio and a residential home in Georgia.

If convicted, the accused could face up to 5 years in prison for each count of conspiracy, cyberstalking, and interstate threats, and up to 10 years for each count involving threats to destroy by fire or explosives.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. The case will be prosecuted in the Federal District Court of Maryland under the oversight of United States Attorney Erek L. Barron and FBI Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno.

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