Boston, MA — A former Northeastern University employee was found guilty by a jury on Friday for orchestrating a false explosion alert and providing misleading statements to federal law enforcement in 2022. These actions triggered widespread campus panic and necessitated a significant emergency response including the evacuation of buildings and a thorough scan for explosives.
Jason Duhaime, who was serving as the director of the university’s Immersive Media Lab at the time, had reported receiving a dangerous package at the lab in September 2022. Duhaime claimed the package exploded causing minor injuries to his hand. The package allegedly had a menacing message condemning media-related research with violent rhetoric.
The Boston police and a bomb squad from the police department conducted multiple sweeps across the campus, searching for potential threats as the incident led to the cancelation of classes and heightened security protocols. This intensive search proved fruitless, as no additional suspicious packages or explosives were found.
Federal investigators, however, soon began to encounter holes in Duhaime’s story. A further probe revealed that the threatening letter Duhaime referred to was found word-for-word on his own laptop, undermining his initial narrative about receiving it in a mail package.
Acting U.S. attorney Joshua Levy highlighted the real-world implications of such fabricated alarms, including undue public fear, the diversion of law enforcement resources, and substantial unnecessary costs associated with the emergency response.
The 46-year-old was convicted on multiple counts, namely one charge of providing false information about an explosive device and two counts of making false statements to federal authorities. Each count could lead up to five years in prison along with fines that may reach $250,000 per count.
Court documents unveiled that Duhaime and a student allegedly transported several cases from a mail area to the media lab, one of which purportedly exploded when opened. This testimony was later contradicted by the results of an immediate site investigation that showed no evidence of the reported explosion or dangerous items in the case.
Scrutiny of the validity of Duhaime’s claims was further supported by physical inconsistencies. Duhaime exhibited minor cuts and bruises but was found wearing an undamaged long-sleeve shirt after the alleged blast. Additionally, officers discovered another similar case that Duhaime claimed to be potentially explosive, yet it also turned out to be empty.
Investigators extended their investigation to Duhaime’s office equipment where they identified the identical threatening note on his computer, created the day the incident was reported. This evidence played a critical role in shaping the charges against him.
During interviews with authorities, Duhaime consistently denied fabricating the event, even describing his encounter as “traumatic” in a media interview and insisted on his innocence.
Northeastern University, following the incident and prior to the pressing of charges, ended its association with Duhaime. His sentencing is scheduled for October.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the interference and disruptions that can be caused by hoaxes, echoing the sentiments of investigators and legal authorities about the seriousness of such actions. Concerns about the impact of such disturbances are notably high in academic environments, where safety and credibility play pivotal roles in maintaining a conducive atmosphere for learning and research.