EarthLink
Testimony Helps Convict 'Buffalo Spammer' on Felony
and Misdemeanor Charges
[April 1, 2004]
ATLANTA, Apr 1, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall
via COMTEX/ -- Howard Carmack, aka the "Buffalo
Spammer," was found guilty yesterday on all 14
counts by a jury in Buffalo, New York. Carmack's criminal
conviction stems from charges that he used fraudulently
obtained Internet access accounts to send forged spam
emails.
EarthLink (ELNK) , one of the nation's
leading Internet service providers, played an instrumental
role in the case. Mary Youngblood, EarthLink's abuse
team manager, provided expert testimony and evidence
about the spamming and spoofing violations that the
company uncovered during its year-long investigation
into Carmack's illegal Internet activities. In addition,
EarthLink's outside counsel Pete Wellborn also testified
in the case.
Last year, EarthLink won a $16.4 million
civil judgment and injunctive relief against Carmack
in U.S. District Court in Atlanta.
The following statement can be attributed
to Karen Cashion, EarthLink's assistant general counsel
who led the ISP's civil case against Carmack.
"This criminal verdict puts spammers
on notice that in addition to being held liable for
millions of dollars in civil damages, they can also
be sent to prison for sending fraudulent and illegal
emails. EarthLink is pleased to have been able to offer
testimony against Howard Carmack, and we commend the
New York Attorney General's office for its successful
prosecution of the criminal case.
"In addition to consumer education,
legislative efforts and innovative tools like spamBlocker
to protect consumers' inboxes from unwanted, unsolicited
junk email, EarthLink will continue to pursue legal
action against spammers with the same tenacity that
led to the case against Mr. Carmack and others like
him. Howard Carmack's criminal conviction demonstrates
that spammers who continue to send illegal emails will
not escape the law."
About EarthLink
"EarthLink revolves around you(TM)."
Celebrating ten years as a leading national Internet
service provider (ISP), Atlanta-based EarthLink has
earned an award-winning reputation for outstanding customer
service and its suite of online products and services.
According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Internet
Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction Study(SM),
EarthLink is ranked highest in customer satisfaction
among high-speed Internet Service Providers. Serving
more than five million subscribers, EarthLink offers
what every user should expect from their Internet experience:
high- quality connectivity, minimal drop-offs and ISP-generated
intrusions, and customizable features. Whether it's
dial-up, high-speed, Web hosting, or wireless Internet
service, EarthLink provides the tools that best let
individuals use and enjoy the Internet on their own
terms. Learn more about EarthLink by calling (800) EARTHLINK
or visiting EarthLink's Web site at www.earthlink.net
.
SOURCE EarthLink
Carla
Shaw of EarthLink, +1-404-748-7436, or cell, +1-404-849-1140,
or shawcm@corp.earthlink.net; or Angela Frechette of
Text 100, +1-404-748-6468, or cell, +1-404-915-7593,
or angelaf@text100.com |
