Minnesota Man Indicted in Connection with Sending Threatening Messages to Boston-Area College Student

 Defendant allegedly created fake images of victim to make it appear as though the victim was involved in pornography

BOSTON – A Minnesota man was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with sending threatening emails to a Boston-area college student.

Eric Bolduan, 46, of Rochester, Minn., was indicted on one count of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure another person. Bolduan is currently incarcerated at FCI Englewood and will make an initial appearance in Boston at a later date.

As alleged in the indictment, Bolduan downloaded images of a female student attending Boston College from her social media pages and from other publicly available sites. Bolduan then located a pornographic image of a different female with a similar appearance and posted the images of the victim alongside the pornographic image to various pornographic websites in order to make it appear that the victim was involved in pornography. Thereafter, Bolduan allegedly sent threatening and harassing emails to the victim. For example, on May 5, 2016, Bolduan sent an email to the victim that included the following language:

I noticed the attached photo of you online and wanted to follow up with you. I’m going to find you this summer.  Once I’ve got you I will have my way with your body for several days, until I finally tire of you.  You will experience things that will give you nightmares for the rest of your life.  I want to look into your eyes as you experience pain at levels you never imagined were possible.  By the time I’m done with you your body will be shattered and broken.  I promise that you’ll never be the same again.

To avoid detection, Bolduan allegedly sent the threatening emails to the victim using an email account that was not in his true name.

Members of the public who have victim assistance questions or information regarding this case should email USAMA.victimassistance@usdoj.gov.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

 The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.