A North Bethesda woman who police say sent her husband an AI-generated photo of a man on their couch as part of a prank is facing charges.
Moesha Gardener, 27, texted her husband the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 8 that a man forced his way inside their home when she answered the door, Montgomery County police said. Her husband then called 911.
Eight police cruisers rushed to the home with their emergency lights and sirens on during daytime traffic, police said.
While officers were on their way, Gardener texted her husband a photo of a man lying on their couch, covered by a blanket, according to police. He told the 911 operator about the photo, police said.
When officers got to the home on McGrath Boulevard, they found her alone sitting on the couch. Police said a cell phone mounted on a tripod was aimed at the front door.
Gardener admitted to sending the messages and photo as part of a prank, police said. She said she used artificial intelligence to generate the image of the man on the couch.
Similar pranks involving AI-generated photos are trending on social media in which people text a family member or friend that a homeless person is in their home.
Police in at least four states are warning people not to do the pranks dubbed “#aihomelessprank” or “#homelessmanprank” because they often cause panic and waste resources, The New York Times reports.
Montgomery County police did not say if Gardener was trying to participate in the trend.
Gardner was charged with making a false statement concerning an emergency/crime and providing a false statement to a state official. She was arrested on Friday and later released on a $10,000 bond.
Police warned the public such “swatting” calls waste resources and can put lives at risk.
“These actions carry serious legal consequences,” the department said in a release.
It was not immediately clear whether Gardener has an attorney. NBC Washington has reached out to the Montgomery County public defender’s office but has not yet heard back.
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