### Fantasy Football Turned Sour: The Risks of Online Group Chats and Fabricated Threats
Philadelphia, a city famed for its enthusiastic sports supporters, has experienced its share of football-related uproar. From oiling light poles to deter fans from climbing them post-victory to the notorious “Go Birds!” chants, the city’s affection for the sport is irrefutable. Nevertheless, one Philadelphia resident, Matthew Gabriel, escalated his football obsession to a shocking and hazardous extreme, transforming a mere fantasy football group chat into a federal offense.
#### The Event: A Fantasy Football Feud Intensifies
Matthew Gabriel, a 25-year-old hailing from Philadelphia’s Mt. Airy area, actively participated in a fantasy football group chat. Like many sports enthusiasts, Gabriel enjoyed light-hearted exchanges and rivalry with other chat members. However, for reasons that remain vague, Gabriel became furious with another participant, a student at the University of Iowa, and opted for extreme measures.
In August 2023, while the student was studying abroad in Norway, Gabriel reached out to the Norwegian police via an online tip form, falsely asserting that the student was plotting a mass shooting in Oslo. His communication was detailed and alarming, outlining a supposed scheme to target a concert and a department store. Gabriel’s tip included:
> “On August 15th a man named [student’s name] is headed around Oslo and has a shooting planned with multiple people on his side involved. They plan to take as many as they can at a concert and then head to a department store. I don’t know any more people than that, I just can’t have random people dying on my conscience.”
The Norwegian police, along with U.S. authorities, took the threat seriously. Countless hours were dedicated to investigating the claim, only to find out that the entire incident was fabricated. When confronted by the FBI, Gabriel confessed to concocting the tale.
#### A Second Fabrication: The Bomb Scare
Despite the severity of his actions, Gabriel didn’t stop there. In March 2024, he further escalated matters by submitting another false report. This time, he emailed officials at the University of Iowa, alleging that the same student was plotting to bomb the school. Gabriel’s email stated:
> “Hello, I saw this in a group chat I’m in and just want to make sure everyone is safe and fine. I don’t want anything bad to happen to anybody. Thank you. A man named [student’s name] from I believe Nebraska sent this, and I want to make sure that it is a joke and no one will get hurt.”
Gabriel included a screenshot from the group chat, which displayed a joke about the student “blowing up the school.” While the screenshot was genuine, the context was evidently humor, and Gabriel was aware of this. Nonetheless, he opted to report it as a genuine threat.
#### Legal Repercussions: Confronting Federal Charges
The U.S. government found no humor in Gabriel’s conduct. He faced charges of two counts of “interstate and foreign communication of a threat to injure.” This week, Gabriel pleaded guilty to both charges in a federal court in downtown Philadelphia. While he could have faced a maximum of five years in prison, local media sources indicate that he reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. Under this arrangement, the government will recommend 15 months of house arrest instead of incarceration.
Gabriel’s attorney, in a series of frank interviews, acknowledged the seriousness of his client’s actions. “This guy is incredibly lucky to receive house arrest,” the lawyer shared with the *Philadelphia Inquirer*. “I don’t know what went through his mind. It was definitely not wise.”
U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero also commented on the case, advising others who may be tempted to engage in similar actions. “My warning to keyboard warriors seeking to evade federal charges: always consider the potential repercussions before you hit ‘post’ or ‘send.'”
#### The Larger Concern: Swatting and Fabricated Threats
Gabriel’s case is not an anomaly. The rise of “swatting”—the act of filing a false report to authorities resulting in a large-scale response, such as a SWAT team—has emerged as a pressing issue in today’s digital landscape. Swatting incidents frequently target individuals within online communities, including gamers, streamers, and, in this instance, fantasy football players.
Indeed, the U.S. Department of Justice recently revealed charges against two foreign nationals, one from Romania and another from Serbia, who had spent years making fraudulent swatting calls to U.S. law enforcement. Their victims included 101 individuals, including members of Congress.
These cases underscore the risks associated with false reporting and the burden it places on law enforcement resources. In Gabriel’s situation, both Norwegian and U.S. authorities dedicated substantial time and effort investigating his deceitful claims, diverting resources away from genuine threats.
