Spam King Pleads Guilty in Seattle

Slashdot mentions a Seattle Times report that Robert Soloway, crowned the "spam king" by federal prosecutors for having sent millions of unwanted emails all over the world, has pleaded guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion. This is in exchange for the state dropping multiple charges of identity theft.

The most serious charge Soloway now faces deals not with spam but with non-electronic mail fraud related to his failure to live up to promises he made about his e-mail-marketing software. That charge carries up to a 20year prison sentence. The electronic-mail fraud charge is punishable for up to five years in prison.

Soloway's attorney, Richard Troberman, said the government's decision to dismiss 37 counts, including all the identity-theft cases, demonstrates that the case "turned out to be vvery different from what was originally charged. We feel that when it comes time for sentencing, we like our chances."


See complete article at The Seattle Times.