Defendant posted internet threats to shoot attendees and
bomb Harvard University
BOSTON – An Arizona man pleaded guilty today in connection
with posting threats to bomb Harvard and shoot attendees at the Black
Commencement event held on May 2017.
Nicholas Zuckerman, 24, pleaded guilty to two counts of
transmitting in interstate and foreign commerce a threat to injure the person
of another. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for May
23, 2019. In June 2018, Zuckerman was arrested and charged.
On or about May 13, 2017, Zuckerman commented on a post
published to Harvard University’s Instagram account, saying: “If the blacks
only ceremony happens, then I encourage violence and death at it. I’m thinking two automatics with extendo
clips. Just so no n***** gets
away.” It is further alleged that on
that same date, Zuckerman posted a comment to another Harvard Instagram post,
saying: “#bombharvard and end their pro-black agenda.” Several minutes later,
Zuckerman commented “#bombharvard” on other users’ posts approximately 11 times
over a span of four minutes.
A concerned citizen who saw the posts reported them to the
Harvard University Police, who ultimately referred the case to federal
authorities.
The charge of transmitting in interstate and foreign
commerce a threat to injure the person of another of provides for a sentence of
no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a
fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed
by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and
other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, Joseph R.
Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston
Field Division, and Harvard University Chief of Police Francis D. Riley made
the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne Paruti and Scott Garland
of Lelling’s Civil Rights Enforcement Team are prosecuting the case.
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