19-year-old Jayden Griffin from South Dakota has pleaded guilty to sending death threats to employees of Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite. The charge is classified as "threat in interstate communication". Griffin faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, as well as up to three years of supervision after release.
According to court documents, between October 24 and November 9, 2024, Griffin sent threatening messages to Epic Games employees, located in North Carolina, through electronic communication channels. In December 2024, a U.S. Grand Jury indicted him.
I sent messages to Epic Games in which I threatened to kill employees of the company. I intended the messages to be perceived as a threat.
At a hearing on September 29 in the Federal Court for the Western District of South Dakota, Griffin pleaded guilty, although in January 2025 he had pleaded not guilty. The court found him competent, aware of the nature of the charges and the consequences of pleading guilty, and the plea itself to be conscious and voluntary, supported by factual evidence.