Spammer Alan Ralsky Pleads Guilty

Czmyt sends the excellent news that one of the US's most notorious spammers has pleaded guilty and could serve 6 years in jail. "Five individuals pleaded guilty today in federal court in Detroit for their roles in a wide-ranging international stock fraud scheme involving the illegal use of bulk commercial e-mails, or 'spamming'... Alan M. Ralsky, 64, of West Bloomfield, Mich., and Scott K. Bradley, 38, also of West Bloomfield, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and to violate the CAN-SPAM Act. ... Ralsky and Bradley also pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and violating the CAN-SPAM Act. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Ralsky acknowledges he is facing up to 87 months in prison and a $1 million fine..."

Re:An old Nigerian Tradition

[Sockatume]

Sounds like a fair punishment to me.

A suitable punishment

[wowbagger]

There are many here who say "It's just a little spam - have some perspective."

OK, so how about this perspective:

Let's just slap his wrist.

Once for every spam reported to Spamcop.net.

Just for one day.

After all, it's just a slap on the wrist - that's not so bad, is it?

A bit of a bummer

[hoarier]

Is anal rape really all that hilarious? Me, I'd have him sentenced to 87 months of sorting dumpster content. But his ass would remain his own.

This Guy Was My Neighbor

[Tempest_2084]

This guy was my neighbor when I was growing up. It doesn't surprise me that he grew up to be a spam king, he was always looking for a way to 'get rich quick' and had a more than average understanding of computers (and a less than average understanding of just about everything else). I can remember him running some sort of telecommunications software on his Apple II every time I was over at his house playing with his daughter. Now looking back on it, I wonder what he was doing and if it was legal. Then again he gave me hundreds of pirated Apple II games at the time so probably not (although I was one happy 10 year old).