A former employee of Northeastern University has been sentenced for staging a hoax explosion and providing false statements to federal law enforcement. Jason Duhaime, 47, received a sentence of one year and one day in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. The sentencing was delivered by United States Senior District Court Judge William G. Young after Duhaime's conviction in June 2024.
Duhaime was found guilty of intentionally conveying false information regarding an explosive device and making materially false statements to a federal agent. He was initially arrested on October 2, 2022, following a criminal complaint and later indicted by a federal grand jury on October 27, 2022.
"Bomb hoaxes are not a harmless act; they inflict fear, divert resources, and put both first responders and the public at real risk as they race to the scene," stated United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. "This sentence should send a clear message to everyone who engages in bomb threats and swatting incidents that you will be held accountable."
Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division, commented on the case: "Jason Duhaime apparently thought he could get away with staging a hoax explosion and lying to us about it, but this sentencing proves how wrong he was." Cohen emphasized the impact of such actions on law enforcement resources and community safety.
In September 2022, Duhaime worked as New Technology Manager and Director of the Immersive Media Lab at Northeastern University. On September 13, he reported being injured by sharp objects from a plastic case he opened in the lab. He claimed that an anonymous note threatening violence was inside the case.
The report led to significant law enforcement involvement, including assistance from the Boston Police Department's bomb squad and multiple agencies. However, evidence revealed that Duhaime fabricated his story; investigators found an electronic copy of the threat letter on his computer created shortly before reporting the incident.
The announcement of Duhaime's sentencing involved several officials including U.S. Attorney Levy; FBI SAC Cohen; Michael A. Davis from Northeastern University; Michael J. Krol from Homeland Security Investigations; Ketty Larco-Ward from U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason A. Casey and Timothy H. Kistner prosecuted the case.