Prolific Spammer's Conviction Upheld

Slashdot reports that in a split (4-3) decision, a Virginia court upheld the verdict against spam king Jeremy Jaynes, ruling that Virginia's anti-spamming law does not violate free-speech rights.

Prosecutors presented evidence of 53,000 illegal e-mail messages Jaynes sent over three days in July 2003. Further, authorities believe Jaynes is responsible for spewing 10 million e-mails a day in an enterprise that grossed up to $750,000 per month.

He was charged in Virginia because the emails went through an AOL server in Loudoun County, where America Online is based. Jaynes, of Raleigh N.C., was convicted of massive distribution of junk e-mail and sentenced to nine years in prison.

For details, see PHYSORG.com.