Michael Dunaway, Violent Threats, Maryland 2018

BALTIMORE, MD – Michael Dunaway, 59, of Hamilton, Virginia, will spend the next 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to a barrage of violent threats directed at employees of a Lutherville, Maryland-based online gaming company. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III handed down the sentence today, marking a harsh response to Dunaway’s escalating online behavior.

The case, announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur, along with Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Moore of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, and Baltimore County Police Chief Terrence B. Sheridan, centers around the popular combat strategy game “DomiNations.” The game, a massive multiplayer online experience, allows players to build virtual nations and wage war against each other – a pastime that apparently ignited a dangerous obsession in Dunaway.

Initially, Dunaway contacted the company in early April 2018 with complaints about gameplay. However, his communication quickly devolved into something far more sinister. Beginning April 17, 2018, Dunaway began sending increasingly violent messages, directly threatening to kill company employees and others. Over a three-month period, between April 17 and July 26, 2018, investigators documented at least 14 separate threats – a relentless campaign of digital terror.

The threats weren’t empty boasts. According to the plea agreement, Dunaway’s actions caused “a substantial disruption of the company’s business functions and services.” The company was forced to deal with the credible threats while attempting to maintain operations, a costly and unsettling situation. The FBI and Baltimore County Police Department launched a joint investigation, eventually leading to Dunaway’s arrest and subsequent guilty plea.

“This sentence should serve as a stark warning: online threats are not harmless venting. They are criminal acts with real-world consequences,” stated U.S. Attorney Hur. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Sippel, Jr. and Michael Goldsticker, who meticulously built the case against Dunaway. The FBI and Baltimore County Police Department received commendation from Hur for their work.

While the world of online gaming often seems distant and unreal, this case underscores the very real dangers lurking within digital spaces. Michael Dunaway’s obsession with “DomiNations” crossed the line, transforming a harmless hobby into a federal crime and landing him behind bars. The message is clear: threatening violence, even online, will not be tolerated.

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