Ned Luke, the motion-capture actor who portrayed "Michael De Santa" in "Grand Theft Auto V," recently celebrated the sentencing of an individual who had repeatedly "swatted" him. According to a U.S. Department of Justice letter he shared on X (formerly Twitter), the perpetrator received a 4-year prison sentence, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $200 fine.
Luke has frequently streamed "GTA Online" in recent years, making him a recurring target of "swatting" incidents. This dangerous prank involves someone falsely reporting a violent crime at a streamer's residence, prompting law enforcement to respond, often with armed officers, during a live broadcast. Such actions pose significant risks to both the victim and responding officers.
Following the leak of Luke's personal address, reports indicate he has been swatted at least four times. With one of the perpetrators now sentenced, Luke took to social media to express his disdain and sarcasm, writing, "Don't drop the soap in the shower, scumbag." He added that this individual wouldn't be swatting anyone else anytime soon and that authorities would pursue other individuals implicated by the convicted party.
Luke concluded his post with five star emojis, a clear nod to the maximum wanted level in the "GTA" series. Notably, he has been swatted so frequently that even local police are familiar with the situation. During one incident in December 2025, two officers arrived already suspecting a false alarm, with on-site video even showing them exchanging Christmas greetings before Luke returned to his "GTA 5" stream.
With the perpetrator sentenced, Luke clearly hopes this outcome will deter other copycat swatting attempts. Fans also anticipate that once "GTA 6" launches on November 19, he will be able to stream without similar harassment.