Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty After Fantasy Football Dispute Sparks Hoax Threats
A Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to making hoax threats after a fantasy football argument escalated into false reports to authorities. đ #News #PhiladelphiaPA #Pennsylvania #Crime
PHILADELPHIA, PA â A fantasy football argument escalated to federal charges for a Philadelphia man who has pleaded guilty to making hoax threats. Matthew Gabriel, 25, admitted to sending false tips to law enforcement, accusing a fellow group chat member of planning violent attacks.
The U.S. Attorneyâs Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced that Gabriel had entered the plea after making threats against a member of his fantasy football group, identified in court documents as Victim 1. The dispute between Gabriel and Victim 1 led to a series of false reports to authorities in both the U.S. and Norway.
First Hoax: Mass Shooting Claim
In August 2023, Gabriel learned that Victim 1 was planning to study abroad in Norway. Gabriel responded by sending an anonymous tip to the Norwegian Police Security Service, claiming Victim 1 was plotting a mass shooting. The false tip was detailed, even providing a physical description of Victim 1 and an alleged attack plan.
“On August 15th a man named [Victim 1] is headed around oslo and has a shooting planned with multiple people on his side involved,” Gabriel wrote in the tip.
He continued: “they plan to take as many as they can at a concert and then head to a department store. I donât know any more people then that, I just canât have random people dying on my conscience. he plans to arrive there unarmed spend a couple days normal and then execute the attack. please be ready. he is around a 5 foot 7 read head coming from America, on the 10th or 11th I believe. he should have weapons with him. please be careful.”
The hoax triggered an extensive investigation. Law enforcement in both Norway and the U.S. spent five days responding to the tip, using “hundreds of man-hours,” according to prosecutors. Gabriel later confessed to the FBI that he had fabricated the threat.
Second Hoax: Bomb Threat at University of Iowa
Despite already facing charges for the first false tip, Gabriel didnât stop there. In March 2024, he made another hoax report, this time targeting the University of Iowa. He again implicated Victim 1, submitting a fake tip claiming that Victim 1 was planning to bomb the school.
“Hello, I saw this in a group chat Iâm in and just want to make sure everyone is safe and fine,” Gabriel wrote in the second report.
He added: “I donât want anything bad to happen to any body. Thank you. A man named [PERSON 1] from I believe Nebraska sent this, and I want to make sure that it is a joke and no one will get hurt.”
Gabriel attached a screenshot from the group chat to the report, showing a message where another member of the chat had made a joking reference to blowing up the university. Despite knowing the message was a joke, Gabriel chose to forward it to authorities, escalating the situation again.
Prosecutors Respond
Gabrielâs actions didnât just waste law enforcement timeâthey also spurred frustration from authorities. U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero emphasized the impact these hoaxes had on resources.
âHis actions were extremely disruptive and consumed significant law enforcement resources on two continents, diverting them from actual incidents and investigations,” Romero said.
Romero continued: “Hoax threats arenât a joke or protected speech, theyâre a crime. My advice to keyboard warriors whoâd like to avoid federal charges: always think of the potential consequences before you hit âpostâ or âsend.ââ
Legal Consequences
Matthew Gabriel pleaded guilty to two counts of interstate and foreign communication of a threat to injure. These charges carry potential penalties of up to five years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Gabrielâs case serves as a reminder of the gravity of hoax threats and the significant legal consequences they can trigger, especially when they result in large-scale law enforcement investigations.
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