A Michigan teen was sentenced this week to eight months behind bars after triggering a bomb scare aboard Carnival Sunrise, forcing a mid-voyage diversion and a full-scale security sweep.
The incident, which happened in 2024, began with an email sent shortly after the vessel departed PortMiami. The message, stating “Hey, I think someone might have a bomb on your Sunrise cruise ship,” FBI traced to 19-year-old Joshua Darrell Lowe, who was reportedly frustrated over being left behind to pet-sit while his girlfriend’s family set sail.
The hoax forced Carnival Sunrise to divert course to Jamaica, where security teams conducted a comprehensive search of more than 1,000 staterooms and public areas for a suspicious package. While no threat was found, the disruption caused significant operational delays and financial impact.
“Lowe admitted he sent the message because he was upset that the family went on the cruise, while leaving him behind to care for their pets,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler said .
Lowe, who was charged with making false threats and hoaxes—a federal offense that carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine—pleaded guilty in January. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney sentenced him to eight months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and imposed a $1,200 fine.
Kessler, in a sentencing memorandum, presented the gravity of the disruption: “The hoax resulted in substantial disruption, including inconvenience to the passengers and potential lost revenue to the cruise line.”
In a letter to the court, Lowe expressed remorse and cited a personal spiritual journey sparked by the incident: “I send my sincere apologies for all I put everyone through.”
