A playful exchange in a fantasy football league took a disturbing turn for one Philadelphia man, Matthew Gabriel, 25, who recently pleaded guilty to two counts of interstate and foreign communication of threats. According to prosecutors, Gabriel falsely accused a fellow league member of planning violent attacks, leading to an international investigation and federal charges. The US Justice Department revealed that Gabriel's online spat escalated when he made false reports to authorities in the United States and Norway, alleging that his rival was plotting a bombing and mass shooting.

The sequence of events began with a disagreement in their fantasy football chat group, as per the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Gabriel, upon discovering that his rival was set to study abroad in Norway in August 2023, anonymously contacted the Norwegian Police Security Service with a fabricated tip. Alleging the man's intentions to carry out a mass shooting in Oslo, Gabriel's false report prompted an extensive five-day investigation involving law enforcement agencies in both Norway and the US, consuming hundreds of hours in the process. Eventually, Gabriel admitted his deceit during an interview with the FBI.

Despite Gabriel's attorney referring to his actions as an "anomaly," the consequences of his hoax were far-reaching. Gabriel extended his apologies to the target of the threats, the Norwegian authorities who dedicated nearly 900 hours to the case, and anyone else affected by his statements. While out on a $25,000 bond, Gabriel awaits his sentencing in January 2025, facing a possible maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. US Attorney Jacqueline Romero emphasized the seriousness of hoax threats, cautioning against the repercussions for those engaging in such actions.