Washington - Three people were indicted and a fourth pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the first case related to the transmission of obscene spam emails under a 2003 United States anti-spam law, officials said.
The US Justice Department said late on Thursday that the charges target an operation that sent out tens of millions of unsolicited emails with sexually explicit embedded images and links to pornographic websites.
The nine-count indictment returned in Phoenix, Arizona, names Jennifer Clason, 32; Jeffrey Kilbride, 39; and James Schaffer, 39. They were charged with fraud and related activity under the federal CAN-SPAM Act and criminal conspiracy.
The indictment also charges Kilbride and Schaffer with interstate transportation of obscene material and money laundering.
"Americans are fed up with the tens of millions of unsolicited, sexually explicit emails received every day," said acting Assistant Attorney General John Richter.
"Today's announcement should send the message loud and clear that the department is committed to using the CAN-SPAM Act and the federal laws to stop those who invade the homes of American families with unwanted, obscene spam."
According to the indictment, Clason, Kilbride, and Schaffer conspired to create one of the largest spam operations in the world, possibly sending to tens of millions of people, to earn commissions for directing traffic to adult websites.
It said America Online alone received more than 600 000 complaints between January 30 and June 9, 2004 from its users on these emails.
The emails were also sent with the sender's name or origin disguised, a violation of the law. Some emails were sent from Internet Protocol addresses registered in the Netherlands and domain names registered in Mauritius, and the "From:" line was often falsified.
Kilbride and Schaffer allegedly used overseas bank accounts in Mauritius and the Isle of Man to launder profits from the spamming operation.
If convicted, Kilbride and Schaffer each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the money laundering charge, and five years in prison on the obscenity charges. All three defendants also face a maximum sentence of five years in prison on each of the spamming and criminal conspiracy charges.
The fourth person Andrew Ellifson, 31, pleaded guilty in February to one count of violating the spam law and one count of criminal conspiracy. But the plea agreement had been sealed pending the other indictments.
The US Justice Department said late on Thursday that the charges target an operation that sent out tens of millions of unsolicited emails with sexually explicit embedded images and links to pornographic websites.
The nine-count indictment returned in Phoenix, Arizona, names Jennifer Clason, 32; Jeffrey Kilbride, 39; and James Schaffer, 39. They were charged with fraud and related activity under the federal CAN-SPAM Act and criminal conspiracy.
The indictment also charges Kilbride and Schaffer with interstate transportation of obscene material and money laundering.
"Americans are fed up with the tens of millions of unsolicited, sexually explicit emails received every day," said acting Assistant Attorney General John Richter.
"Today's announcement should send the message loud and clear that the department is committed to using the CAN-SPAM Act and the federal laws to stop those who invade the homes of American families with unwanted, obscene spam."
According to the indictment, Clason, Kilbride, and Schaffer conspired to create one of the largest spam operations in the world, possibly sending to tens of millions of people, to earn commissions for directing traffic to adult websites.
It said America Online alone received more than 600 000 complaints between January 30 and June 9, 2004 from its users on these emails.
The emails were also sent with the sender's name or origin disguised, a violation of the law. Some emails were sent from Internet Protocol addresses registered in the Netherlands and domain names registered in Mauritius, and the "From:" line was often falsified.
Kilbride and Schaffer allegedly used overseas bank accounts in Mauritius and the Isle of Man to launder profits from the spamming operation.
If convicted, Kilbride and Schaffer each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the money laundering charge, and five years in prison on the obscenity charges. All three defendants also face a maximum sentence of five years in prison on each of the spamming and criminal conspiracy charges.
The fourth person Andrew Ellifson, 31, pleaded guilty in February to one count of violating the spam law and one count of criminal conspiracy. But the plea agreement had been sealed pending the other indictments.
