BOSTON — A former employee of Northeastern University has been sentenced to just over a year in prison after he fabricated a story about an explosion on campus, leading to a significant law enforcement response. Jason Duhaime, aged 47 and hailing from San Antonio, Texas, was found guilty in June of falsely conveying information regarding an explosive device, along with two counts of making false statements to federal authorities. His sentencing took place on Monday.
U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy expressed the seriousness of bomb hoaxes, stating that they are not merely harmless pranks, but actions that create fear and divert essential resources. He emphasized that such actions pose real dangers to both first responders and the public, cautioning that one fraudulent call could land an individual in jail.
Duhaime, who served as the new technology manager and directed the Immersive Media Lab at Northeastern, reported a suspicious incident in September 2022. He contacted the campus police to inform them that after retrieving various packages, including two Pelican hard cases, one had exploded upon opening, causing injuries to his arms from flying debris.
His emergency call triggered a large-scale response from law enforcement, prompting evacuations and the mobilization of a bomb squad to the area. Duhaime presented police with a letter that he claimed to have discovered in one of the cases, which alleged that the lab was attempting to manipulate individuals into living in a virtual reality environment in collaboration with notable figures like Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and the U.S. government.
The letter reportedly warned, “In the case you got today we could have planted explosives but not this time!!! Take notice!!! You have 2 months to take operations down or else!!!!!” However, the FBI quickly debunked Duhaime’s claims. Investigators found no evidence of explosives in the cases and noted that the letter appeared completely intact. Furthermore, while he had minor injuries on his arms, there was no damage to his clothing. Agents later discovered a digital copy of the letter on Duhaime’s computer, dated just hours before his emergency call.
Prosecutors requested a sentence of one year and one day, labeling Duhaime’s actions as significantly disruptive and wasteful. Levy pointed out that Duhaime not only orchestrated a hoax but also misled investigators during several interviews, even calling for them to meet him again, where he continued to provide false information, including naming supposed individuals who might want to harm the lab.
Duhaime’s lawyer made a case for a reduced sentence, arguing that his client had no prior criminal history, had struggled with unemployment, and had ongoing health issues related to his spine. His public defender, Scott Lauer, stated that the fallout from the incident had severely impacted Duhaime’s life, leading to the loss of his job at Northeastern, depletion of his savings due to legal expenses, and challenges in finding new employment, which, combined with mental health struggles, had alienated him from family and friends.
Northeastern University is a private institution with a student population exceeding 40,000, comprising more than 18,000 undergraduates and around 22,000 graduate students.
