Philadelphia man pleads guilty to fantasy football threats in Iowa

Matthew Gabriel, a 25-year-old from Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to making false threats related to fantasy football in two separate incidents. The first incident occurred in August 2023 when Gabriel, after an argument in a fantasy football group chat, submitted a fake tip to Norwegian authorities claiming a league member was planning a mass shooting in Oslo. Gabriel later admitted to the FBI that the tip was fabricated. The second incident took place on March 22, 2024, when Gabriel sent a bomb threat to the University of Iowa. In this case, he referenced a conversation from his fantasy football group chat, falsely claiming that a member intended to blow up the school. Gabriel was aware that the individual mentioned was not a threat and that the comment was made in jest. Federal prosecutors emphasized the seriousness of Gabriel's actions, noting that they caused significant disruption and wasted law enforcement resources across two continents. The threats were not only hoaxes but also crimes that could have severe consequences. Gabriel's case serves as a cautionary tale about the potential repercussions of making false threats online. Authorities have warned that such actions are not protected speech and can lead to federal charges, urging individuals to consider the implications of their words before sharing them in digital spaces.