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New Hampshire Man Sentenced for Extortionate Bomb Threats Against Harvard University
BOSTON – In a shocking case of extortionate bomb threats, William A. Giordani, 55, of Manchester, New Hampshire, was sentenced to three years of probation by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley in federal court in Boston.
The crime occurred on April 13, 2023, when Giordani placed a large tool bag, containing a locked safe with fireworks and electrical wires, in the center of Harvard’s Science Center Plaza. He then made several bomb threats to the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD), claiming to have placed three explosives on campus, and demanding an unspecified amount in Bitcoin to prevent the remote detonation of the devices.
Giordani’s scheme was uncovered when he began to receive assistance from an unknown party via a Craigslist advertisement. However, instead of reporting the plot to authorities, he chose to delete incriminating text messages and went on the run from police. His girlfriend was also instructed not to speak to anyone about the incident.
The investigation revealed that Giordani had been recruited to join the extortion scheme and had a legal obligation to report it to the authorities. However, he chose to conceal the federal felony, leading to his subsequent arrest and sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Boston Division, with assistance from the Harvard University Police, Cambridge Police Department, and Nashua (N.H.) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. McNeil prosecuted the case.
Giordani pleaded guilty to one count of concealing a federal felony in January 2024. The extortionate threats caused the evacuation of Harvard’s Science Center Plaza and surrounding academic buildings, and the controlled detonation of a hoax device.
With his three-year probation sentence, Giordani will be monitored by authorities to ensure he does not reoffend. The case serves as a reminder of the severe consequences of extortionate threats and the importance of reporting suspicious activities to the authorities.
Defendant Name: William A. Giordani
Exact Criminal Charges: Concealing a federal felony
City and State: Manchester, New Hampshire
Exact Date: January 2024 (plea), April 13, 2023 (crime)
Sentence or Outcome: Three years of probation
Dollar Amounts: None specified
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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