A Manchester, New Hampshire, man was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Boston for making bomb threats against Harvard University in the hopes of extorting money. The threats caused the evacuation of Harvard’s Science Center Plaza and surrounding academic buildings on April 13, 2023.
William A. Giordani, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to three years of probation after pleading guilty in January to one count of concealing a federal felony.
Giordani was recruited to join the extortion scheme via a Craigslist ad. “Once Giordani knew he had been recruited to assist in an extortionate bomb scheme, he had an obligation under federal law to report that scheme to authorities,” officials said in a Thursday press release from the office of acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy.
Instead he went through with the plot. His role was to place a large tool bag in the center of the busy plaza, authorities said.
After Giordani planted the device, a caller – using an app to change his voice – called Harvard police and said three bombs had been planted around the campus and would be set off remotely unless the school paid an unspecified amount in Bitcoin. Several calls followed in which the caller assured Harvard University police he was serious about his demands. The caller pointed police to the “bomb” in the plaza, which was found next to a bench.
Police issued an emergency evacuation order of the area and a Cambridge bomb squad arrived, disabling the device with a controlled detonation.
It was just a locked safe containing fireworks and electrical wires, the bomb squad found.
No additional devices were found on campus that day.
As the scheme fell apart, Giordani deleted incriminating text messages, told his girlfriend not to speak to anyone about it and went on the run from police, authorities said.
This post was written from a press release.
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.