12/14/2003: 
Stuff That Doesn't Suck
Virginia files felony spam charges
By John Borland, CNET News
Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore announced Thursday that his office had made its first felony indictment under the state's antispam law.
The charges were filed against North Carolina resident Jeremy Jaynes, also known under the pseudonym "Gaven Stubberfield," for allegedly using fraudulent means to transmit unsolicited bulk e-mail. Jaynes was arrested Thursday morning in Raleigh, N.C., and will be extradited to Virginia, Kilgore's office said.
Kilgore's office said an arrest warrant also was issued for Richard Rutowski, an associate of Jaynes, on the same charges. Rutowski had not yet turned himself in as of late Thursday, a representative for Kilgore said.
According to antispam organization Spamhaus, "Stubberfield" is well-known for pornographic and "get rich quick" offers online and was ranked No. 8 on the group's top 10 spammers list for November. The charges were based in part on reports from America Online subscribers. Kilgore announced the indictment at AOL headquarters.
"Falsification (of e-mail headers or routing information) prevents the receiver from knowing who sent the spam or contacting them through the 'from address' of the e-mail," Kilgore said in a statement. "This is what makes this e-mail a crime in Virginia, and the volume that was sent during this period elevates the charge to a felony."
Gaven Stubberfield, (snicker). You will now address me as Gaven Stubberfield, or Mr. Stubberfield if you're nasty. Bravo to Attorny General Killgore. I hope to see more of this from all states. Let no spam go unpunished.
