Fantasy football spat spurs man to report a false bomb threat against the University of Iowa

A Pennsylvania man has pleaded guilty in federal court after falsely reporting a bomb threat against the University of Iowa and for providing a fake "tip" of an international killing spree.

The fake reports were allegedly spurred by a disagreement with another person in a fantasy football group.

Matthew Gabriel, 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of interstate and foreign communication of a threat to injure.

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Gabriel emailed "false" report of a bomb threat

Prosecutors said Gabriel, while residing in Pennsylvania in March, posed as another individual to send an email to the University of Iowa with the subject line, "Possible Threat."

The email contained a screenshot of a fantasy football chat including the message, "Hello University of Iowa a man named (Victim 1) told me he was going to blow up the school."

"Victim 1" refers to an individual in the group chat with whom Gabriel allegedly was feuding with. Authorities said Gabriel knew the person wasn't going to "blow up the university" and that another person in the fantasy football group sent a statement "in jest."

"Despite knowing that there was no actual threat to the University of Iowa, the defendant transmitted the email knowing that the University of Iowa would view it as a true threat," the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania wrote.

Gabriel allegedly told the University of Iowa "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 any body," according to court documents. "Thank you. A man named (Person 1) from I believe Nebraska sent this, and I want to make sure that it is a joke and no one will get hurt."

A spokesperson for the University of Iowa Campus Safety Office said court rules prevent the department from commenting on a case that is pending sentencing.

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Gabriel submitted a false mass-shooting tip to Norweigan authorities

Gabriel also allegedly accused the same person he referenced in his email of planning an international killing the year prior.

In August 2023, Gabriel had an initial disagreement with "Victim 1" in the fantasy football group chat. Gabriel allegedly knew the man would be studying abroad in Norway. Gabriel ubmitted a tip to the Norweigan Police Security Service "claiming that a member of his fantasy football group chat was going to carry out a mass shooting in Norway," according to federal prosecutors .

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Law enforcement officials in Norway and the United States spent "hundreds of hours" investigating Gabriel's claim.

Gabriel falsely said that "Victim 1" planned to visit Norway and shoot "as many (people) as they can" at a concert and a department store."

The threat specified Victim 1's height and hair color.

Prosecutors were rather heavy-handed as they scolded Gabriel, accusing him of wasting time and government resources.

“His actions were extremely disruptive and consumed significant law enforcement resources on two continents, diverting them from actual incidents and investigations," U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said. "Hoax threats aren’t a joke or protected speech, they’re a crime. My advice to keyboard warriors who’d like to avoid federal charges: always think of the potential consequences before you hit ‘post’ or ‘send.’”

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UI Threat Assessment Team attempts proactive response

The University of Iowa's Threat Assessment Team joined the Office of Campus Safety in 2023 as part of an internal realignment. The team is composed of individuals with student life, law enforcement and human resources backgrounds, according to their website .

Reports submitted to threat assessment are different from those provided explicitly to law enforcement. The team has a proactive approach and reaches out to individuals who engage in "threatening or harassing calls, texts, emails or social media" posts or make "statements with violent content or intentions," the university said .

The Threat Assessment Team then works to create a "safety plan."

These vary from case to case and continue until "the concern is resolved or the behavior is de-escalated."

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Fantasy football spat spurs man to report a false bomb threat against the University of Iowa