True Crime Unheard

True Crime Unheard Information about the True Crime Cases You Haven't Heard podcast. You can find more at https://truecrimeunheard.com

06/05/2026

The final gavel has dropped for Alan Winston Filion, and the sentencing is raising eyebrows across the legal community. While the defense pleaded for time served, hoping to see the 16-year-old walk away with probation, the judge had a very different outcome in mind.

Sentenced to 48 months in federal prison, Filion’s fate exceeded even the government’s initial request. This decision marks the conclusion of a bizarre and high-stakes saga involving encrypted channels, eerily accurate pattern recognition, and a string of investigations that saw the FBI seizing over a dozen devices. Perhaps most chilling? Filion continued his operations even as the walls were closing in.

This deep dive into *United States v. Alan Winston Filion* explores how a teenager built a sophisticated criminal enterprise, the evidence that finally brought him down, and the heavy price he’ll pay for his digital footprint.

06/05/2026

The shadows of the internet hide some truly disturbing behavior. A chilling investigation peels back the layers of a so-called cyberstalking cult and exposes the relentless campaign orchestrated by 16-year-old Alan Winston Filion. From turning swatting into a free service to terrorizing innocent families, the scope of this harassment is nothing short of harrowing.

Even with the FBI closing in and multiple devices seized, the calls didn't stop. This deep dive into *United States v. Alan Winston Filion* examines how one teenager built a digital empire of chaos, leaving his victims—including comedian Patrick Tomlinson and his elderly parents—facing mounting legal battles and a lifetime of psychological trauma. It's a sobering look at how online malice translates into real-world destruction.

06/05/2026

For five years, one man’s life turned into a living nightmare. With 42 instances of “swatting” and authorities seemingly powerless to stop the escalating harassment, Tomlinson’s reality became a terrifying test of endurance. Even his elderly parents weren't spared, targeted in the crosshairs of a digital predator who continued his spree even after the FBI seized his devices.

This deep dive into the case of *United States v. Alan Winston Filion* reveals how a 16-year-old built a global criminal business from his bedroom, manipulating encrypted channels and leaving a trail of chaos in his wake. Despite the mountain of evidence, the legal system proved to be an unexpected obstacle, leaving victims drowning in debt and despair while the perpetrator operated with chilling impunity. Discover the investigative breakthrough that finally brought him down and the disturbing truth about why justice is so hard to find in the digital age.

06/04/2026

The nightmare of being swatted doesn’t always end when the police leave. For Patrick Tomlinson, a single tweet about a comedian spiraled into five years of relentless, coordinated torment. Even after the swatting attempts stopped, the obsession continued—fueled by a community of strangers who generated over 400,000 forum posts targeting him and his wife.

Behind the scenes of this disturbing case is Alan Winston Filion, a teenager who turned cyber-harassment into a criminal enterprise. From an investigator infiltrating encrypted channels to an eagle-eyed gamer tracking typing patterns, the investigation into *United States v. Alan Winston Filion* reveals just how deep this digital rabbit hole goes. Explore the reality of online harassment and the federal investigation that finally brought the chaos to light.

06/04/2026

It’s hard to believe, but for Alan Winston Filion, terrorizing unsuspecting victims wasn’t just a crime—it was a high score. New revelations expose how this teenager built a chilling, organized swatting business right under everyone's noses. Filion treated emergency services like an arcade game, maintaining a private scoreboard of his conquests, crossing off counties on a map of Washington State like it was a travel itinerary.

While the FBI seized 13 devices, the calls kept coming. How did he get caught? It took a combination of a persistent private investigator, a gamer who recognized distinct typing patterns from years prior, and a digital trail that spanned over 170 recorded calls. Host Steve Rhode breaks down the disturbing reality of *United States v. Alan Winston Filion*, exploring the dark side of a digital-native criminal who turned emergency response systems into his personal playground.

06/04/2026

A brilliant mind trapped in a destructive pattern—or something far more calculated?

Alan Filion was a 99th-percentile student with an associate's degree in mathematics and a bright future. Yet, from a jail cell, he was admitted to UC Berkeley. While three independent psychiatrists diagnosed him with autism spectrum disorder—citing a significant impairment in understanding the harm he caused—others saw a different story.

From encrypted channels to typing patterns recognized by gamers years later, this investigation exposes how a teenager built a criminal enterprise from behind a screen. Was this a case of mind blindness, or did he know exactly what he was doing?

Dive into the details of *United States v. Alan Winston Filion* as this episode breaks down the federal court documents, plea agreements, and investigative reporting to uncover how a high-IQ kid became a prolific menace.

06/03/2026

A trivial digital dispute turned into a real-world tragedy in April 2020. When a teenager demanded a specific Twitter handle, the refusal from its owner, 60-year-old Mark Herring, triggered a chilling sequence of events. By posting Herring's address online and orchestrating a swatting call from across the ocean, the consequences proved fatal.

This investigation dives into the dark reality of online harassment and the devastating impact of swatting. Beyond this heartbreaking case, the spotlight turns to the broader world of digital crime, examining how teenage perpetrators built dangerous underground networks and the relentless efforts by investigators to track them down. Using federal court documents and investigative journalism, this deep dive uncovers the patterns behind these crimes and how digital footprints eventually catch up to those responsible.

06/03/2026

He treated terror like a business model. With a price list, discount codes, a loyalty program, and a literal scoreboard to track his hits, Alan Winston Filion didn't just cause chaos—he commodified it.

From testing his dangerous methods on his own family home to taunting law enforcement with claims of invincibility, this 16-year-old operated with a chilling detachment. Even after the FBI seized thirteen of his devices, the calls continued. It took the combined efforts of a persistent private investigator and a gamer who recognized unique typing patterns from years prior to finally expose the truth behind the screen.

In this deep dive into *United States v. Alan Winston Filion*, viewers uncover the disturbing reality of how a teenager turned swatting into a full-scale criminal enterprise. It’s a sobering look at the disconnect between digital actions and the very real, terrifying consequences faced by those targeted in their homes, schools, and places of worship.

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