A former lab manager at Northeastern University was found guilty of faking an explosion on the Boston campus

A former lab manager at Northeastern University was found guilty of faking an explosion on the Boston campus
Rodrique Ngowi / The Associated Press

A former Northeastern University lab manager was found guilty of fabricating an explosion on the Boston campus and then lying to a federal agent about what transpired.

A federal jury found 46-year-old San Antonio, Texas resident Jason Duhaime guilty of three charges on Friday. For each crime, he could be sentenced to up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $250,000.

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According to court records, Duhaime’s two attorneys left the case in January. The public defender who took their place on Saturday could not be reached for comment at this time.

Duhaime was the director of the Immersive Media Lab and the university’s new technology manager. When he opened one of the two Pelican hard plastic boxes he had taken from a mail area in September 2022, it exploded, sending sharp pieces flying and cutting his arms. He reported this to the university police.

Following Duhaime’s 911 call, law enforcement took significant action, evacuating the neighborhood and dispatching the bomb squad.

He presented the police with a letter he claimed to have discovered inside the case, in which it was stated that the lab was secretly collaborating with the US government and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in an attempt to force people to live in virtual reality.

According to court records, the note said, “We could have planted bombs in the case you received today, but not this time!” “Pay attention! You have two months to cease activities”

However, the FBI claims that Duhaime’s story fell apart very fast. The letter seemed to be in perfect condition, and they noticed nothing in the cases. According to the FBI, Duhaime had minor wounds on his arms but no damage to the sleeves of his shirts. Additionally, when investigators examined Duhaime’s computer, they discovered a duplicate of the letter he had written just hours before dialing 911 in a backup folder.

“There are repercussions in real life for bomb hoaxes like the one the defendant made in this case. Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy stated in a statement that there are serious financial ramifications, law enforcement officers are distracted from other crucial responsibilities, and communities are made to feel afraid. “We will work closely with our local, state, and federal partners to hold accountable anyone who tries to instill fear and distress into our community as we experience a wave of bomb hoaxes in schools, houses of worship, and other gathering places.”

Over 18,000 undergraduates and 22,000 graduate students attend the private university Northeastern.

October 2 is when Duhaime is expected to be sentenced.

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