A Pennsylvania man from the heart of Amish Country sent a fake bomb threat to the U.S. Open in a desperate attempt to save a losing $100 sports bet, federal court records revealed. The incident happened during a high-stakes women’s tennis match in Sept. 2024, but the bizarre gambling motive behind the hoax only came to light in Sept. 2026 after journalists uncovered unsealed sentencing documents.
What was initially investigated as a potential act of international terrorism turned out to be a 19-year-old panicking from his mother’s basement over a $100 online bet.
