Overview
- Logan David Patterson, 18, and Dominick Frank Cardoza, 21, pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to conspiracy to damage a federally funded research building, with sentencing set for August 4.
- Prosecutors told the court they will seek three years of supervised release, full restitution to Harvard, and a fine, noting the agreed guideline range does not call for incarceration.
- Defense lawyers said they will ask for probation and described the incident as a night of misbehavior by young men who later accepted responsibility.
- Investigators say the pair climbed scaffolding after 2:30 a.m., entered Harvard’s Goldenson Building, and detonated a commercial-grade firework — described as a Roman candle — inside a fourth-floor locker; no injuries or significant damage were reported.
- Harvard police released images of the masked suspects, and witnesses who had seen the men’s video of the blast came forward, leading to their arrests three days after the Nov. 1, 2025 explosion.