Each man could face up to five years in prison and at least $250,000 in fines if convicted

The Associated Press
WFLS News

Date published: 6/24/2004

(New York-AP) -- An America Online software engineer stole a list of 92 million customer screen names that was eventually used to send massive amounts of e-mail spam.

Federal prosecutors say that 24-year-old Jason Smathers was arrested at his home in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and was charged with conspiracy.

According to a criminal complaint, Smathers worked at AOL offices in Dulles when he stole the list and sold it to a 21-year-old Las Vegas man. Sean Dunaway used the list to promote an Internet gambling operation and sold it to spammers.

Dunaway also was arrested at his home and was charged with conspiracy.

Each man could face up to five years in prison and at least $250,000 in fines if convicted.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Date published: 6/24/2004