A Philadelphia man has entered a guilty plea to federal charges stemming from a pair of startling threats that set off law enforcement agencies here and abroad. The bomb and mass shooting threats, linked bizarrely to the man's participation in a fantasy football league, were declared as a hoax—but not before causing significant disruption.
25-year-old Matthew Gabriel admitted to two counts of communicating interstate and foreign threats to injure. In August of 2023, Gabriel fabricated a terrifying scenario of a planned mass shooting in Norway. He transmitted an anonymous tip to the Norwegian Police Security Service, detailing a fictitious attack during a concert and at a department store, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The Norwegian and U.S. authorities spent days thoroughly investigating the alleged plan.
But Gabriel's lapse in judgment didn't end there. In March 2024, he sent another false alarm, this time to the University of Iowa, feigning concern over a bomb threat he knew to be a mockery within his fantasy football chat group. The fear induced by such threats can never be taken lightly, as Gabriel is being harshly reminded. "While already being prosecuted for one hoax threat spurred by, of all things, his fantasy football league, Matthew Gabriel inexplicably decided to send another," U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero stated. His actions forced law enforcement to dedicate their precious time to what ultimately turned out to be a cruel farce.
The repercussions of these hoaxes are severe, with Gabriel potentially facing up to five years in prison, a quarter-million-dollar fine, and supervised release following his prison term. Romero's blunt advice to the public is to always consider the possible consequences before you hit 'post' or 'send'. In an era where virtual threats are as terror-inducing as the prospect of genuine violence, the scrutiny and responses they provoke are warranted, as FBI Special Agent in Charge, Wayne A. Jacobs, explained. Furthermore, Jacobs emphasized that expression through violence or threats of such will not be tolerated under any guise. Coordination between international and local law enforcement was key in bringing this case to a close, with notable collaboration from the Norwegian Police Security Service.
Authorities are urging individuals to reflect on the gravity of their online conduct. The handling of Gabriel's case, extensively investigated by the FBI with Assistant United States Attorney Danielle Bateman prosecuting, demonstrates that the physical and digital realms are now inseparably stitched together in the fabric of law enforcement's protective duties.
