After causing panic on the Boston campus with his bomb hoax, a former Northeastern University staffer is now facing sentencing.#Massachusetts #News #BostonMA #Crime
Boston A former employee at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, was sentenced to prison for a strange and deadly deception. In 2022, 47-year-old Jason Duhaime falsely reported an explosion on campus, stating that a box contained threatening letters and sharp objects. This aroused panic and led to a major law enforcement reaction. His activities resulted in the diversion of vital resources, the needless evacuation, and the involvement of several agencies.
The Hoax and Its Impact
Duhaime, the director of Northeastern’s Immersive Media Lab, called campus police on September 13, 2022.
He said that sharp things flew out of a plastic case he opened in the lab, injuring his arms. A second unopened parcel with a menacing note threatening the lab was also described by him.
The note warned that worse things would happen if the university didn’t stop. According to Duhaime, the memo included conspiracy theories about Mark Zuckerberg and Meta, alleging that the business was covertly exploiting the facility to create virtual reality products that would destroy society.
Significant law enforcement action was taken in reaction to the hoax. While local, state, and federal agencies looked into the possible threat, campus police evacuated a portion of the university. A significant amount of emergency services were used as a result of the incident, which spread dread throughout the school.
Investigation Unravels the Truth
Duhaime’s account was soon questioned as police started to examine into the incident.
He stuck to his version of events when he was questioned by police on September 13 and 14, claiming that the threatening letter and the explosion were authentic. But an important piece of evidence was found during a search of his office: a digital copy of the threatening letter.
The letter was written hours before Duhaime called the police, according to forensic evidence. Duhaime claimed the explosion occurred later that night, but it was printed between 2:50 and 3:56 p.m. on September 13. This electronic copy refuted Duhaime’s claims and revealed the deception.
Legal Consequences and Public Reaction
Duhaime was found guilty on several counts in June 2024, including giving federal authorities inaccurate information about the explosive device and making false claims. He was given a sentence of one year and one day in federal prison on January 13, 2025, and two years of supervised release after that.
Law enforcement representatives spoke out about the harm the scam had created. In addition to being deadly, bomb hoaxes take vital resources away from dealing with actual emergencies, said Joshua S. Levy, U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.
Jodi Cohen of the FBI denounced the event, pointing out that frauds like this jeopardize public safety, waste money, and cause needless panic in communities.
CONNECTED TOPICS: Massachusetts Crime
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