PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of San Antonio, Texas, has been sentenced in federal court to 18 months incarceration on his conviction of Threatening Interstate Communications.
United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Yuttana Choochongkol, aka Jason Manotham, age 41. Choochongkol told the judge, “I am sorry for everyone I offended or frightened.”
According to the information presented to the court, on January 10 and 11, 2018, Choochongkol made three threats against the athletes and attendees of the National Football League Divisional Playoff Game on Sunday, January 14, 2018. Choochongkol used the internet to send threats to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania through the KDKA.com and Heinzfield.com “contact us” portals that he was going to engage in mass shootings and suicide at the game.
Choochongkol said, according to KDKA, he was going to “try and kill as many Steelers football players and fans as possible before taking my own worthless life. So see y’all in hell.”
“Consider me armed and dangerous for this Sunday with inside connection. I will be packing an Uzi with many clips underneath my winter gear. My target will be the whole Steelers sideline. There is only one God!! His name is Allah!!” He posted as “Kill Roethlisberger.”
Assistant United States Attorney Paul E. Hull prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. In imposing the sentence, the Court noted the seriousness of the offense of sending internet communications threatening to harm fans and players participating in a public event.
