Virginia judge sentences spammer to nine years

If we get caught, we're not going to white-collar resort prison. No, no, no. We're going to federal POUND ME IN THE ASS prison. - "Michael Bolton," in Office Space

A Virginia judge has sentenced a man, convicted of a felony under Virginia's strict anti-spam laws, to nine years in prison:

Jaynes, 30, who was considered among the top 10 spammers in the world at the time of his arrest, used the Internet to peddle pornography and sham products and services such as a "FedEx refund processor," prosecutors said. Thousands of people fell for his e-mails, and prosecutors said Jaynes' operation grossed up to $750,000 per month.

Jaynes was convicted in November for using false Internet addresses and aliases to send mass e-mail ads through an AOL server in Loudoun County, where America Online is based. Under Virginia law, sending unsolicited bulk e-mail itself is not a crime unless the sender masks his identity.

I'm pretty sure that they'll keep this guy away from the Internet while he's in prison, and quite possibly once he's released as well. If he does have Net access, however, justice demands that it be an AOL account.