A New Hampshire man, identified as 55-year-old William Giordani, has been sentenced to three years of probation for his involvement in a plot that resulted in bomb threats to Harvard University last year. The threats led to the evacuation of Harvard’s Science Center Plaza and surrounding academic buildings, as well as the controlled detonation of a hoax device on April 13, 2023.
Giordani initially faced charges of making an extortionate bomb threat, but those charges were dropped. He pleaded guilty to one count of concealing a federal felony, acknowledging his knowledge of the plot and his failure to report it. Prosecutors recommended a sentence of up to three years’ probation, considering Giordani’s drug habit and his involvement in a recovery program.
The plot involved a Craigslist ad seeking an individual to purchase fireworks and collect various items in Massachusetts, including wire, a metal locking safe, and a bag, which were intended to be delivered to Giordani’s son at Harvard. After retrieving the items, Giordani became suspicious of their potential use in constructing a bomb, as suggested by deleted text messages. He also took steps to evade police contact, indicating a desire to conceal his role in the delivery of the bag.
The incident resulted in no injuries.
