BOSTON (WWLP) - A former Northeastern University employee has been sentenced to a year in federal prison for staging a hoax explosion. New York man sentenced for trafficking cocaine from Puerto Rico to Massachusetts The incident took place in September of 2022 where 47-year-old Jason Duhaime set off a massive law enforcement response after he called the Northeastern Police Department and reported that he had been injured when a package he was opening exploded, according to the Department of Justice. Duhaime also reported the case contained a note that threatened to destroy the lab where he worked. Department of Justice Duhaime’s report and his concern about a second, unopened package triggered a large law enforcement response that included the assistance of the Boston Police Department’s bomb squad, multiple federal and state law enforcement agencies and the evacuation of a portion of the Northeastern campus.    Investigators later determined it was all a hoax. He was arrested without incident on October 2nd near his home in San Antonio. “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.”  said 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 and that one phone call may land you in jail.” “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,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Hoax explosive devices and fictious letters threatening violence cause real-world damage. It drains law enforcement resources, diverts us from responding to an actual crisis, puts innocent people at risk, and instills unnecessary fear in the community. FBI Boston’s Joint Terrorism Task Force takes all threats to life seriously and so should anyone thinking about making one. We will investigate, identify you, and ensure you’re held accountable for your actions.” Local News Headlines Egg supply dwindles due to Bird Flu outbreaks National Bagel Day: Where to get the best bagels in western Massachusetts Health New England sale called off, according to Baystate Health Nonstop flights added from Bradley International Airport to New York City WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.