The FBI has arrested a Fortnite player in Alabama after Epic Games sent agents recordings of threats he made in voice chat. Edward Lee Frith, 29, played under the name WagesOfNinja. He is charged with interstate threatening communications. He has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is expected in December 2026.
Epic’s report reached the FBI on September 20. Three days later he was indicted.
What Did the Fortnite Player Say in Voice Chat?
The FBI affidavit, first reported by Aftermath, says Frith talked about killing people and threatened any agents who came to his home. One line quoted in the filing reads: “Let’s see if the FBI is going to show up at my door because I’ll shoot them motherf**kers too.”
The affidavit lists other remarks as well. He allegedly said he was “letting all [his] rage out” because he wanted to “literally murder somebody.” He also allegedly said he thought about killing people every day and would “probably end up killing a cop” if he was arrested. He also spoke about hurting himself if it came to that.
A court has not tested any of these claims. Frith is presumed innocent.
Fortnite FBI Arrest Timeline
| Date (2026) | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 20 | Epic Games makes a voluntary emergency disclosure to the FBI |
| September 21 | FBI files a criminal complaint. The WagesOfNinja account is used for the last time |
| September 23 | Frith is arrested and indicted |
| September 24 | He pleads not guilty |
| September 29 | A judge orders him held in custody until trial |
| December (expected) | Trial in the Southern District of Alabama |
How Epic Games Reported the Player to the FBI
Epic used what it calls a voluntary emergency disclosure. The package sent to the FBI had the WagesOfNinja account details and the audio clips captured by Fortnite’s voice reporting tool.
Investigators traced the account to Frith. According to court records, it was accessed more than 1,700 times from Alabama IP addresses. An FBI agent listened to every clip and confirmed the audio matched the transcripts in the affidavit.
The case moved fast. A typical Fortnite voice report ends with a warning or a ban. This one went from an in-game report to a federal indictment in about 72 hours. Epic has used the courts against bad actors before, most recently when a Fortnite DMA cheat seller was banned after an Epic Games lawsuit. This time it handed the evidence to federal agents.
How Fortnite Voice Reporting Works
Fortnite voice reporting keeps a rolling five-minute recording of voice chat on your console or PC. Nothing is sent to Epic until someone files a report. When a player does report a chat, the last five minutes of audio go with the report, and Epic moderators review the clip.
Epic launched the feature on November 16, 2023. The rules change with age.
| Setting | Under 18 | 18 and over |
|---|---|---|
| Voice reporting | Always on while voice chat is on | “Always On” or “Off When Possible” |
| How to stop it | Mute yourself or turn voice chat off | Choose “Off When Possible” in Settings > Audio > Voice Reporting |
| Audio captured | Last 5 minutes | Last 5 minutes |
| Where it is stored | On your device until reported | On your device until reported |
| How long Epic keeps reported clips | 14 days or the length of the penalty, whichever is longer | Same |
“Off When Possible” only works in friend-only parties where every member has opted out. In public matches, recording stays on.
Epic’s voice reporting support page says the company cannot hear any voice chat unless voice reporting was on and someone submitted a report. That is how the WagesOfNinja clips reached Epic.
Other platforms are adding voice tools too. Microsoft is testing voice chat capture in Xbox recordings, and leaks suggest Riot is preparing penalties for abusive DMs in Valorant.
What Charge Does Edward Frith Face?
Frith is charged under 18 U.S.C. § 875(c), the federal law against threats to injure someone sent through interstate communication. Fortnite voice chat travels over the internet, so it qualifies.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Charge | Interstate threatening communications |
| Law | 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) |
| Maximum prison term | 5 years |
| Maximum fine | $250,000 |
| Court | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama |
| Plea | Not guilty |
Prosecutors have to prove a “true threat,” meaning a serious statement of intent to commit violence against a person or group. Since the Supreme Court decided Counterman v. Colorado in 2023, they also have to show the speaker was at least reckless about how his words would be understood. Ordinary trash talk usually doesn’t reach that bar. Saying you will shoot federal agents who come to your door can.
Earlier Fortnite Threat Cases
Federal prosecutors have brought Fortnite-related threat cases before. In September 2025, Jayden Griffin, a 19-year-old from South Dakota, pleaded guilty to sending death threats to Epic Games staff between October and November 2024. He faced the same charge and the same five-year maximum. He told the court: “I intended for the messages to be viewed as a threat at the time that I sent the messages.”
Griffin sent written messages to Epic staff. Frith’s alleged threats were spoken during matches and recorded by Fortnite’s own reporting system.
What the Arrest Means for Fortnite Players
With voice chat on, anything you say can be stored for five minutes on another player’s device, and players under 18 record by default. One report sends that clip to Epic. Epic has now shown it will pass serious threats to law enforcement.
For most players, nothing changes. Swearing and trash talk lead to in-game penalties at most. Threats of real violence are treated differently, as this case shows.
If you hear a threat, report the player in-game and pick voice chat so the audio is attached. If someone is in immediate danger, call local emergency services first. Players in the US can also send tips to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.
FAQ
Who is the Fortnite player arrested by the FBI?
Edward Lee Frith, a 29-year-old from Alabama who used the Fortnite username WagesOfNinja. He was indicted on September 23, 2026, for interstate threatening communications after Epic Games gave the FBI recordings of his voice chat. He has pleaded not guilty and is in custody awaiting trial.
Can Epic Games record Fortnite voice chat?
Yes, through voice reporting. Fortnite keeps the last five minutes of voice chat on your device, and the audio reaches Epic only when a player reports the chat. Epic keeps reported clips for 14 days or for the length of any penalty, whichever is longer. Appeals can add up to 14 more days.
Does Epic Games report players to the police?
It can. Here, Epic sent the FBI a voluntary emergency disclosure containing account details and voice clips. US law allows online services to share data with police when they believe someone faces a risk of death or serious injury. Most rule breaks in Fortnite end with an in-game ban.
What is the punishment for making threats in online games?
In the US, threats sent over the internet can be charged under 18 U.S.C. § 875(c). The maximum penalty is five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors must prove a true threat, and courts look at the full context, so normal trash talk rarely qualifies.
Can I turn off Fortnite voice reporting?
Players 18 and over can pick “Off When Possible” under Settings, Audio, Voice Reporting. It only applies in friend-only parties where everyone has opted out. Players under 18 can’t turn it off. Their only options are muting themselves or switching voice chat off completely.
When is Edward Frith’s trial?
His trial is expected in December 2026 at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. A judge ordered him detained on September 29, so he will stay in a corrections facility until the case is heard.
