Daniel Lee Rippy, Making an Interstate Threat, Ohio 2018

COLUMBUS, Ohio – In a disturbing case of threats during a high-profile sports event, a California man has been sentenced to prison for making violent threats toward The Ohio State University and its football players during the 2018 Ohio State v. Michigan game.

Daniel Lee Rippy, 29, of Livermore, Calif., was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for making an interstate threat on December 1, 2018.

According to court documents, Rippy sent a message over Facebook threatening a shooting at The Ohio State University and vowing to hurt football players. He sent several other threats during the game – which was being played in Columbus – to injure or kill players, their family members and the head coach.

The incident put law enforcement officials at the stadium on high alert, re-allocating resources to investigate the threat. U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers stated that Rippy’s words are not without consequence, as illustrated by today’s sentence of imprisonment. Officials initially had concerns about Rippy’s connections to the state of Michigan, but determined that he was in California at the time of the threat and did not pose an immediate danger.

FBI agents arrested Rippy in California in December 2019 and he was released on bond. However, he was re-arrested and U.S. Marshals transported him to Columbus after he failed to appear for a scheduled appointment with the court.

Rippy pleaded guilty in July 2020 to one count of making a threat in interstate communications. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Ohio State University Police Chief Kimberly Spears-McNatt joined U.S. Attorney DeVillers and FBI Special Agent in Charge Chris Hoffman in announcing the sentence. Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley imposed today’s sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Knight represented the United States in the case.

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