What began as a fantasy football feud ended with a Pennsylvania man pleading guilty to federal felony charges in connection with a fake cross-border mass shooting threat and a fake domestic bomb threat.
Philadelphia player Matthew Gabriel got into an altercation with a member of his fantasy football league in a group chat in August 2023. After learning that a fellow league member was traveling to Norway to study abroad, Gabriel allegedly provided an anonymous online tip to the Norwegian Police Security Service.
“His actions have been extremely disruptive and have consumed significant law enforcement resources on two continents, diverting them from real cases and investigations.”
The hint read: “August 15th, [Victim 1] They are in the Oslo area and are planning a shooting involving several members of his entourage. They are going to take out as many people as they can at the concert and then go to a department store. I don't know any more people than that. [sic] that.”
The source added: “I have no conscience and cannot stand random deaths. He will arrive unarmed and will spend a few days acting normally before attacking. Be prepared. He is about 5ft 7ins tall.” [sic] The head of the US is scheduled to arrive on the 10th or 11th. He will likely be carrying weapons, so be careful.
Norwegian and U.S. law enforcement agencies spent more than 900 hours investigating the case over five days. New York Post.
During questioning by the FBI, Gabriel reportedly admitted to making the call and fabricating the mass shooting threat.
Even though prosecutors had filed a federal lawsuit against Gabriel for his initial false report, Gabriel concocted a “mysterious” bomb threat to pin the blame on members of his fantasy football league.
United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero stated“Matthew Gabriel had already been charged with one mischievous threat stemming from a fantasy football league, but inexplicably decided to send another one.”
In March 2024, the University of Iowa received an email with the subject “Potential Threat.”
“Hey there, I saw this in a group chat I'm in and just wanted to make sure everyone is safe and well,” the email began. “I don't want anything bad to happen to anyone. Thank you. [PERSON 1] We believe this email was sent from the state of Nebraska, but it was a joke and we don't want anyone to get hurt.”
The email included a screenshot of a fantasy football group message that read: “Hello, University of Iowa [Victim 1] He said he was going to blow up the school.”
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania press release“Gabriel knew the victim had no intention of blowing up the university and that the message had been sent as a joke by another member of the fantasy football group regarding Gabriel's earlier threat. Despite knowing that there was no actual threat against the University of Iowa, the defendant sent the email knowing that the University of Iowa would view it as a real threat.”
Gabriel's lawyer, Ronnie Fish, said: Philadelphia Inquirer “It was just a prank. It probably got a little more extreme than it was intended to be,” he said Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the 25-year-old man pleaded guilty to two felony counts of transmitting interstate threats, each punishable by up to five years in prison.
Gabriel is scheduled to be sentenced in January, with prosecutors agreeing to recommend 15 months of house arrest and three years of probation.
“This guy is so lucky to be on house arrest,” Fish said of his client. “I wouldn't encourage anyone else to do the same thing and expect the same outcome.”
“His actions have been extremely disruptive and have drained significant law enforcement resources on two continents, distracting them from real cases and investigations,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Making false threats is not a joke or protected speech – it's a crime. My advice to keyboard warriors hoping to avoid federal charges is always consider the possible consequences before hitting 'post' or 'send.'”
“No emotion can be expressed through violence or threats of violence, and we thank our international partners for their help in solving this case,” Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the Philadelphia FBI declared.
The spark for the fantasy football league feud has not been disclosed.
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