A 19-year-old man from Michigan was sentenced to eight months in prison on Monday after making a false bomb threat in January 2024. Authorities say Joshua Lowe was upset that his girlfriend’s family went on a cruise while he stayed behind to care for their pets.
The Carnival Sunrise cruise ship left Miami in January 2024. Soon after, the cruise line received an email stating, “Hey, I think someone might have a bomb on your Sunrise cruise ship.” Prosecutors say this email led Carnival Corp. to check over 1,000 rooms.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler said FBI agents traced the email to Lowe, who was staying with his girlfriend’s family. According to Kessler, Lowe admitted to sending the email because he was upset that the family had gone on the cruise while he was left behind to care for their pets.
Lowe apologized for his actions in a letter to U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney. He wrote, “This is all my fault and I take full responsibility.”
“Anyone making a bomb threat should expect to be taken at his word. Fortunately, this particular hoax did not result in physical injury,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler in a court filing.
