Jason Duhaime, a 46-year-old San Antonio, Texas resident, was convicted on three separate charges by a federal jury last Friday. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
As reported by CBS News, Duhaime was previously employed as the university's new technology manager and director of the Immersive Media Lab. In September 2022, he alarmed the university police with a report of an explosion. He claimed to have retrieved several packages from a mail area, including two Pelican hard plastic cases. Upon opening one of the cases, he alleged that it exploded, causing sharp objects to fly out and injure his arms.
The 911 call made by Duhaime triggered a significant response from law enforcement, leading to the evacuation of the area and the deployment of the bomb squad. The incident stirred panic across the campus, as reported by CBS Boston at the time.
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FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Joseph Bonavolonta, during a 2022 news conference, stated, "Throughout the course of our investigation, we believe he repeatedly lied to us about what happened inside the lab, faked his injuries and wrote a rambling letter directed at the lab — threatening more violence." Duhaime had presented to the police a letter he claimed to have found in the case. The letter alleged that the lab was conspiring to make people live in a virtual reality world, in secret collaboration with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and the U.S. government.
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The letter read, "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!!!!!" as per court documents. However, the FBI soon found inconsistencies in Duhaime's narrative. The cases were empty, and the letter was suspiciously undamaged. Duhaime's injuries were superficial, and his shirt sleeves were unscathed. A search of Duhaime's computer revealed a copy of the letter in a backup folder, written a few hours before the 911 call.
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Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy, in a statement, emphasized the serious implications of such hoaxes, stating, "Bomb hoaxes like the one the defendant fabricated here have real life consequences. Communities are put in fear, law enforcement personnel are diverted from other important duties and there are significant financial repercussions." He pledged to work closely with local, state, and federal partners to hold accountable anyone who attempts to instill fear and distress in the community.
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Northeastern University, a private institution, boasts a student body of over 18,000 undergraduates and 22,000 graduate students. Duhaime's sentencing is set for October 2nd. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of truth and accountability, particularly in an academic setting where the pursuit of knowledge should be paramount.
