Teen jailed for fake bomb threat against cruise ship
A Michigan teenager has been sentenced to eight months in prison for reporting a false bomb threat on a Carnival cruise ship that his girlfriend and her family were on. Joshua Darrell Lowe, 19, made the bogus threat after becoming upset that he was left at home to watch their pets while they went on the cruise.
According to prosecutors, Lowe was living with his girlfriend and her family in Muskegon County when he reported the bomb threat. Carnival Corp. had to check over 1,000 rooms on board the ship after receiving the false threat, causing a significant disruption to the cruise.
The incident occurred in January 2024, shortly after the ship had departed from Miami en route to Jamaica. Lowe sent an email to Carnival Cruise Lines claiming that there was a bomb on board the ship, prompting a thorough search of the vessel by the staff.
FBI agents were able to trace the email back to Lowe, who admitted to sending the message out of anger for being left behind to care for the pets. Fortunately, the hoax did not result in any physical harm, but it did lead to significant inconvenience and disruption for the passengers and crew on board.
The US Coast Guard and Jamaican authorities were also involved in escorting the ship to port as a precautionary measure. Lowe later apologized for his actions in a letter to US District Judge Paul Maloney, taking full responsibility for the false bomb threat.
Making a bomb threat is a serious offense that can have severe consequences, as demonstrated by Lowe’s case. It is a reminder that such actions can lead to legal repercussions and should never be taken lightly.
