eCommerce Times: Prosecutor Explains Why Spammer Sent to Slammer

Virginia prosecutor Russell McGuire explained the logic and strategy behind his successful conviction of a spammer to a lengthy jail sentence. The first-hand account of the trial is a fascinating story of how a state can meet the burdens of proof in an anti-spam proceeding. McGuire's story is particularly valuable in explaining how the case had to be positioned to appeal to the sensibilities of a jury, framed particularly in terms of the impact on individual victims. This is possible in cases where the spam also involved fraud, but would certainly be tougher if only pure spam charges - sending unsolicited commercial email in an illegal fashion - were brought.