Johnson County
SWAT callers receive jail time
A federal judge sentenced two defendants to prison on Friday for their participation in phone pranks and other crimes that, among numerous victims, involved an Alvarado family.
U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn sentenced Matthew Weigman, 19, to 135 months in prison and Paul Benton, 23, to 18 months in prison. Neither is a Texas resident.
Weigman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to retaliate against a witness, victim or informant and one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and unauthorized access of a protected computer.
Benton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to obstruct justice.
A third defendant, Carlton Nalley, pleaded guilty to the same offenses as Weigman but failed to appear in court for sentencing on Friday.
His case will be addressed at a later date, court officials said.
Another federal judge sentenced four other participants in the conspiracy to sentences ranging from 30 to 60 months last year.
The group’s actions affected more than 250 victims and resulted in about $250,000 worth of damages, said Kathy Colvin, spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks.
In swatting, the perpetrators falsely report an emergency to police that results in a response — sometimes involving a SWAT team, hence the name — to a different location, or make false reports to summon other first responders somewhere.
Swatters manipulate computer and phone equipment to make it appear the emergency calls are coming from their victim’s home.
On June 12, 2006, the group swatted an Alvarado family, which caused Johnson County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Cleburne police officers, including the department’s SWAT team, to surround the home of Jim Proulx.
Authorities believed Proulx had called 911 claiming to have killed some members of his family while high on hallucinogenic drugs.
The caller, pretending to be Proulx, told officials he was holding other family members hostage and threatened to kill them unless his demands for $50,000 and transportation were met.
Proulx hadn’t called or shot anyone. He was sound asleep when rescue personnel arrived.
On Oct. 1, 2006, Weigman called the Fort Worth Police Department identifying himself as Proulx and told police that, among other things, he had shot and killed family members.
Among other acts, Weigman also admitted to acts of retaliation against a Verizon fraud investigator who testified against Weigman’s co-conspirators last year.
- Johnson County
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