A Brampton man has been sentenced to a year in jail for anonymously telephoning Toronto Police and Crime Stoppers with threats to blow up a large shopping mall in New Jersey days before the 2006 U.S. Thanksgiving.

Justain Dillon, 34, was sentenced in Brampton Wednesday after pleading guilty earlier to making the calls in November 2006. He was charged with causing a hoax regarding terrorist activity.

Dillon was arrested in April 2008 by officers of the Ontario Integrated National Security Enforcement Team.

The RCMP said Dillon placed several phone calls to Crime Stoppers, Toronto Police and the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office in New Jersey. The caller said a terrorist group was planning to blow up a mall in the state.

"The RCMP takes these sorts of matters very seriously," said Insp. Kevin Jackson, officer in charge of O-INSET. "Terrorist hoaxes cause very real public apprehension, resulting in unnecessary and costly police responses."

RCMP Sgt. Marc LaPorte said dozens of police officers in Canada and the U.S. were put on alert to secure the mall after the threats were made.

"The calls resulted in a significant police response involving several agencies," LaPorte said.

The response included stopping incoming and outgoing traffic, checking individuals who matched the description of the alleged perpetrator, and preventing vehicles from stopping in loading zones around the mall.

The hoax was received on Friday, Nov. 24, a week before "Black Friday," the busiest shopping day of the year in the United States.

The RCMP, FBI, department of homeland security, the Atlantic County Sheriff, and Freehold Township Police in New Jersey were also involved.