A Michigan teenager was sentenced to jail after reporting fake bomb threats on a Carnival cruise ship.
Joshua Darrell Lowe, 19, was sentenced to eight months in prison on Monday, April 14 for causing a false bomb threat, forcing Carnival companies to inspect more than 1,000 rooms on the ship after leaving Miami in January 2024, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said Lowe, who lives in Muskegan County with his girlfriend and family, reported a bomb on the boat because he was upset that they left him at home to see the pets while they sailed to Jamaica.
“FBI agents traced their email address back to Lowe, who lives with his girlfriend’s family,” Nils Kessler, an assistant U.S. attorney, said in court filings.
“Lowe admitted he sent the message because he was frustrated with the family’s upward cruising while keeping him in care for their pets.
“Anyone who causes a bomb threat should be bound by his words.
Fortunately, this particular scam did not cause any physical harm. Kessler added.
“Lowe admitted he sent the message because he was frustrated with the family’s upward cruising while keeping him in care for their pets.
Kessler added: “Anyone who causes a bomb threat should be threatened in his words. Fortunately, this particular scam did not cause any physical harm.”
Carnival Cruise Company received a fake tip in a January 2024 email warning: “Hey, I think someone might bomb on your sunrise mail ship,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said last year.
Officials said the fleet of cruise ships had just left Miami and threatened to head to Jamaica when they came in.
After receiving the email, the crew of the ship searched for more than 1,000 rooms after receiving the email.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Jamaican authorities were also involved in escorting the ship to the port.
Lowe reportedly apologized to him in a letter to U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney: “It’s my fault, I take full responsibility.”
