A self-described Pittsburgh social media influencer, Brett Michael Dadig, has admitted in federal court to a stalking campaign that prosecutors say terrorized 11 women in multiple states. The guilty plea, entered today, follows an indictment accusing him of a sustained stretch of threats, doxxing, and in-person confrontations that left several women afraid for their safety.
According to CBS Pittsburgh, Dadig, 31, acknowledged conduct that prosecutors say included online threats, repeated uninvited appearances at victims’ workplaces and homes, and violations of protection orders. The outlet reported that the plea was entered in federal court and that judges will now schedule further proceedings to determine his sentence.
A federal grand jury indicted Dadig on Dec. 2, 2025, bringing 14 counts that included cyberstalking, interstate stalking, and making interstate threats, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The indictment identifies 11 victims in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Iowa, and New York and alleges that he used podcasts and social media posts to harass, intimidate, and sometimes publish private information about them.
How prosecutors say he targeted women
Prosecutors say Dadig focused his attention on boutique gyms and fitness studios, first approaching women in person, then escalating online by posting photos and private details about them. Court filings also allege that he used an AI chatbot as a kind of sounding board and that he treated its responses as encouragement to continue his harassment. That AI angle and quoted passages from the indictment were highlighted in coverage of the case by Ars Technica.
Local fallout and gym bans
South Hills fitness businesses moved quickly to distance themselves once the behavior came to light. WPXI reports that Dadig was banned from F-45 in the South Hills, Flo Yoga, and Orange Theory Fitness, and that mall management issued a trespass notice. Prosecutors say two Pittsburgh-area victims obtained Protection From Abuse orders that Dadig allegedly violated, conduct that fed into the federal case. Patrons and employees told local reporters the incidents left them on edge and forced a hard look at how gyms and studios handle persistent, unwanted advances.
Legal stakes and next steps
If the judge accepts the guilty plea, the case moves into the sentencing phase. The combined counts carry a theoretical maximum of up to 70 years in prison and fines that could total about $3.5 million, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania. It was not immediately clear when a sentencing hearing would be scheduled, CBS Pittsburgh reported.
“Dadig stalked and harassed more than 10 women by weaponizing modern technology and crossing state lines, and through a relentless course of conduct, he caused his victims to fear for their safety and suffer substantial emotional distress,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti said in the Department of Justice release. Prosecutors say the FBI and local police gathered evidence across jurisdictions, while victim-support organizations have emphasized the need for stronger protections when online harassment spills into real-world stalking. The case is also putting a spotlight on how online platforms and AI tools are monitored when they are used to fuel harassment, an issue advocates say will remain in focus as the matter continues in federal court.
