Overview
- Kya Christian Nelson, 23, was sentenced to 44 months in federal prison for conspiracy and unauthorized computer access related to a 2020 swatting spree.
- Nelson and co-conspirators hacked Ring doorbell cameras using stolen Yahoo credentials to place hoax emergency calls across nine states, including California and Florida.
- The group livestreamed police responses on social media and used the hacked devices to verbally taunt officers and victims during the incidents.
- Specific cases included hoax calls in West Covina and Oxnard, California, where armed police cleared homes at gunpoint based on false reports of violence.
- The case highlighted vulnerabilities in smart home devices, prompting FBI advisories on cybersecurity measures like strong passwords and two-factor authentication.