Former Babson College Student Pleads Guilty To Threatening 45

BOSTON – A former Babson college soccer player pleaded guilty in federal court Friday in Boston with sending death threats to at least 45 professional and collegiate athletes between July and December 2017, after he lost money betting for or against them, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Addison Choi, 23, of Fullerton, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting in interstate and foreign commerce a threat to injure the person of another. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti Saris scheduled sentencing for Nov. 1. Choi was indicted in May.

In 2017 Choi attended played varsity soccer at Babson College. He also had a gambling problem, according to court documents. He often gambled on both professional and collegiate sports, and he lost more than he won, according to the court documents.

When the players or teams that he bet on performed poorly, Choi would send them racist death threats over Instagram.

Court records say July 27, on 2017, Choi posted on one professional athlete's Instagram account: "I will kill you and your family and f****** hang them on a tree you stupid ugly mother*****" and also "I hope you f****** die you stupid monkey n*****."

On the same day, Choi posted multiple threats to another athlete and their family via Instagram.
In another instance, Choi posted on the Instagram page of a professional athlete's girlfriend, calling her expletives and telling her to leave her boyfriend.

Between July 2017 and December 2017, Choi posted threats to at least 45 different accounts, with multiple threats to each account and often multiple targets per threat.

"There is a difference between free speech – even hate speech – and intentionally putting others in fear for their lives," United States Attorney Andrew Lelling said in a statement following his indictment. "Mr. Choi crossed that line. Based on today's charging document, and hiding behind the anonymity of social media, he threatened his victims in graphically violent, often racist terms. We take seriously internet-based threats of violence, especially racist ones – they undermine our nation's hard-won, fundamental values of equality."

Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division Joseph Bonavolonta called the threats "racist" and "vile."

"He waged a very public campaign of intimidation against them, blaming them for his own prolific gambling losses. Let this case serve as another warning to others who think they can hide behind a keyboard and get away with making violent threats that put others in fear for their lives. Enough is enough," he said.

Between July 2017 and December 2017, Choi allegedly posted threats to at least 45 different Instagram accounts, with multiple threats to each account and often multiple targets per threat.

Choi faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution and a fine of $250,000.

Also read:

Man Threatens Pro-Choice MA Professor: DOJ

Former Babson College Student Accused Of Threatening

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).