Fantasy Football Feud Leads to International Investigation and Federal Charges for Philadelphia Man

A Philadelphia man is facing federal charges after a fantasy football dispute escalated into an international investigation. Matthew Gabriel, 25, has pleaded guilty to two counts of interstate and foreign communication of threats after authorities say he falsely accused a fellow league member of planning violent attacks, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Fantasy Football Feud Leads to International Investigation and Federal Charges for Philadelphia Man

The trouble started after Gabriel had an online disagreement with another participant in his fantasy football league. Prosecutors say Gabriel retaliated by submitting a false tip to both U.S. and international law enforcement, accusing the rival player of planning a bombing and mass shooting.

Gabriel’s first false tip occurred after he learned that a fellow player would be studying abroad in Norway in August 2023. He submitted an anonymous report to Norway’s Police Security Service, falsely claiming that the individual was planning a mass shooting in Oslo, targeting both a concert and a department store. The tip triggered a massive investigation, involving both U.S. and Norwegian authorities, who spent days and hundreds of hours investigating the claim.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Gabriel later confessed to fabricating the tip during an interview with the FBI. His attorney, Lonny Fish, described the incident as a “one-time mistake,” adding that Gabriel has apologized to the authorities and to the target of his false accusation.

But Wait, There's More

While under investigation for the hoax in Norway, prosecutors uncovered another false report from earlier in 2023. In this instance, Gabriel had emailed the University of Iowa, falsely claiming that the same fantasy football rival was planning to "blow up the school."

“Matthew Gabriel’s actions were incredibly disruptive, consuming valuable law enforcement resources across two continents,” said Jacqueline Romero, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “His decisions diverted attention from real threats and investigations.”

Gabriel was released on a $25,000 bond and is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Federal authorities emphasized the seriousness of hoax threats, reminding the public that such actions have severe legal consequences.

“My advice to anyone tempted to engage in online threats: think twice before you hit send,” warned Romero.