Former Northeastern employee convicted of staging hoax explosion
BOSTON (WPRI) — A former employee of Northeastern University was found guilty on Friday of staging a hoax explosion.
U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy's office says 46-year-old Jason Duhaime was convicted of multiple counts related to making false statements and giving false information to federal law enforcement.
BACKGROUND: Northeastern employee accused of faking campus explosion
Back in September 2022, Duhaime called police and said he'd been hurt after sharp objects flew out of a plastic case he opened.
At the time, Duhaime was working as the new technology manager and director of Northeastern's Immersive Media Lab. He told a dispatcher that he and a student had brought several packages into the lab that morning.
Duhaime claimed he was hurt by sharp objects that came flying out of a plastic case. He also said there was an anonymous and threatening note in the case. (Courtesy of FBI Boston)
Duhaime claimed that the case came with an anonymous note that threatened to "destroy the lab." The note read in part, "You have two months to take operations down or else!!!!! WE ARE WATCHING YOU."
The report triggered a large response from multiple law enforcement agencies including the Boston Police Department's bomb squad.
When talking to police, Levy's office says Duhaime doubled down on his claims and denied making up the story.
During a search of his office, investigators found several laptops including one that had a word-for-word copy of the threatening letter that was printed just hours before Duhaime reported the incident to police.
"Bomb hoaxes like the one the defendant fabricated here have real-life consequences," Levy said in a press release. "Communities are put in fear, law enforcement personnel are diverted from other important duties and there are significant financial repercussions."
Charges of intentionally giving false information related to an explosive device and lying to federal agents can each carry a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
Duhaime is scheduled to be sentenced in October.
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