CNN –
A Northeastern University employee who told police last month he was injured by an exploding package made up the story and now faces charges for the deception, according to a criminal complaint.
Jason Duhaime, who was the new technology manager and director of Northeastern University’s Immersive Media Lab, has been charged with one count of transmitting false information and deception related to an explosive device and making materially false statements. , fictitious and fraudulent to a US government agency. according to the complaint.
“Throughout the investigation, we believe he repeatedly lied to us about what happened inside the lab, faked his injuries and wrote a rambling letter addressed to the lab threatening further violence,” said Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in charge, Tuesday.
Duhaime was arrested Tuesday morning in Texas and will appear before a magistrate judge in the afternoon, U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said.
CNN has reached out to his defense attorney for comment.
The report of an explosion on Sept. 13 prompted an evacuation of the campus, diverted law enforcement resources and caused panic, Rollins said Tuesday.
“His alleged actions diverted significant law enforcement resources away from essential matters of public safety and caused fear and panic not only on campus but also in the homes of the families, friends and loved ones of students, faculty and Northeastern staff, as well as the people who live and work near Northeastern’s campus,” he said.
Duhaime called 911 that day to report that he was injured by sharp objects ejected from a plastic case he had collected from the mail room and opened in Northeastern’s virtual reality lab, according to the complaint. The 45-year-old man suffered minor injuries to his hand, university and law enforcement officials said.
He also told investigators he found a threatening note with the case accusing the lab of secretly working for Facebook and Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg in a US government plot to take over the company by virtual reality, according to the complaint.
However, investigators found the case and letter undamaged, and discovered a document on Duhaime’s computer that was “word for word” the same as the threatening letter, according to the complaint .
Authorities also said that when Duhaime showed the responding officer his “several small, superficial marks or bruises” on his forearms, he rolled up his long sleeves that did not appear to have any damage.
Northeastern University issued a statement Tuesday saying Duhaime is no longer employed by the university.
“Northeastern would like to thank the professionals of the FBI, the US Attorney’s Office and the Boston Police Department for bringing this investigation to a close,” the university said. “Knowing what we know now about this incident, we want to make it clear that there was never any danger to the Northeastern community. As always, the safety of our students, faculty and staff is our highest priority.”
An online biography of Duhaime on Northeastern’s website says he is a “new technology manager” who managed virtual/augmented reality and 360 immersive technology for the university.