Manhattan Beach Legislator Applauds Prison Sentence for Prankster in 'Swatting' Case

Manhattan Beach, CA - Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Manhattan Beach, on Tuesday applauded the two-year federal prison sentence handed to a man who falsely reported to police that the congressman had shot his wife.

On April 19, 2013, the lawmaker was a victim of "swatting" when someone posing as Lieu texted police that he had shot his wife at their Torrance home.

Lieu's wife was ordered out of the house by police. The congressman was not home at the time and was initially shaken when he learned there was a report that his wife had been shot.

Mir Islam, 22, of New York City, was sentenced Monday in Washington, D.C., to 24 months behind bars for "swatting" and "doxing" numerous victims, including Lieu, as well as making false bomb threats and engaging in online cyber-stalking three years ago.

In his victim impact statement, Lieu -- who was targeted as a result of a 2013 bill he authored which increased the fines an individual would have to pay for making bogus emergency calls -- detailed the effects that Islam's actions had on him and his family.

"I want to thank the court today for rendering the appropriate sentence for the perpetrator who caused so many people much distress," Lieu told the judge. "I believe 'swatting' is a serious crime that can result in injuries or deaths."

"It causes significant disruptions to first-responders and is a wasteful allocation of critical resources that should otherwise be used for real emergencies," Lieu said. "I commend the FBI and their incredible work and dedication in tracking down Mr. Islam.

"I also want to thank the first responders, especially from the city of Torrance, for their professionalism during that time," the congressman said. "Elected officials should never be criminally targeted or become victims of crime because of legislation we choose to author. It is my hope that this sentencing will deter others from committing similar criminal acts."

"Swatting" are pranks in which people make phony reports to draw SWAT officers to the homes of celebrities or other high-profile figures. "Doxing" is the act of posting on the internet personal information about an individual, including, for example, addresses, dates of birth, social security numbers, telephone numbers and credit information.

Islam and co-conspirators committed the acts to entertain themselves, to exact revenge for official conduct they found objectionable, to express animus toward certain victims, and for their own notoriety, federal prosecutors said.

— City News Service, photo courtesy of Ted Lieu for Congress