COLUMBUS, Ohio — An 18-year-old Columbus man accused of making several swatting threats to law enforcement agencies in Ohio and across the country was arrested on Thursday.
Brayden Grace was indicted in federal court for conspiracy, cyberstalking, interstate threatening communications and threats to damage or destroy by means of fire and explosives.
Grace was on the FBI's Most Wanted list for his alleged involvement in conspiring to place, or causing to be placed, swatting calls to multiple police departments across the country from Dec. 10, 2023, through at least Jan. 18, 2024.
The FBI says Grace was allegedly part of an online group called “Purgatory” that used social media platforms like Telegram and Instagram to coordinate and plan alleged swatting activities.
The FBI says the swatting incidents include:
- A threat to burn down a residential trailer park in Alabama
- A shooting threat against a teacher and students at a Delaware state high school
- A shooting and bomb threat to the Albany International Airport in New York
- A shooting and bomb threat against a casino in Ohio
- A multiple homicide event and shooting threat against individuals in a residence in Eastman, Georgia
Two other people, 26-year-old Evan Strauss, of Virginia, and Owen Jarboe, of Maryland, were also charged.
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