Originally published Tuesday, July 22, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Spammer sentenced to 47 months in prison
The man crowned the "Spam King" by federal prosecutors was sentenced to 47 months in prison today for sending tens of millions of unsolicited e-mails.
Seattle Times staff reporter
The man crowned the "Spam King" by federal prosecutors was sentenced to 47 months in prison today for sending tens of millions of unsolicited e-mails.
Robert Soloway, 28, apologized for being a "nuisance" to people whose in boxes filled with his advertisements for what a federal judge called a "mini-spam factory" — software Soloway sold that allowed others to harvest e-mail addresses from the internet and create spam of their own.
"I built my entire life around a facade," Soloway told the court. "I'm very embarrassed and I'm ashamed."
U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman said she realized that the unusual three-day Soloway sentencing hearing was being watched to see how she would apply new criminal statutes dealing with spammers. Pechman said nearly four years in prison would be enough, even though federal prosecutors had asked that she send Soloway away for more than twice as long.
Soloway, who suffers from Tourette's syndrome, was told he could surrender to the Bureau of Prison in two months after working out medication issues. Pechman also ordered him to pay more than $708,000 in restitution.
Mike Carter: 206-464-3706 or mcarter@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Arson suspect has long history of setting fires
Band of advocates, activists now McGinn's likely insiders
Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
Kirkland annex 'yes' could be slipping away
Licata looks at boosting traffic-ticket revenue

Opening day at Crystal Mountain
Skiers crowded the slopes at Crystal Mountain for one of the resort's earliest openings.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Seattle U. Men's Hoops | Big recruit goes from Huskies to Redhawks
- Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
- Razor found in muffin an accident, 'mortified' baker says
- Suspect's family shaken by slaying of police officer
- Mountlake Terrace woman reports razor in muffin
- Man says he will protest city's gun ban by carrying gun into community center
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
632 - Seattle man to pack a pistol into community center to protest mayor's ban
260 - GOP clueless as families struggle with health care
180 - Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
178 - KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
142 - Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
139 - Wright State game thread
97 - Rang says Locker not ready for NFL
85 - Wilson "really, really excited to be back in Seattle"
76 - Licata looks at boosting traffic-ticket revenue
74
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- Ivar's undersea billboards a hoax devised as marketing ploy
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- An 802.11n upgrade could make a big difference
- Washington in race for federal education funds
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Goodwill's Glitter Sale is Nov. 14-15





