Spammer gets 30 years behind bars

Christopher William Smith has been sentenced to 30 years in jail for charges related to spam activities. Smith had become known as highly prolific sender of internet spam. He specifically hit AOL users hard.

Previously, AOL had successfully sued Smith for over 5 million dollars.

By 2004 his business had expanded to a call center employing 85 people. It is estimated that his operations have sent over 1 billion unsolicited advertisements. The passing of the CAN-SPAM act is said to be attributable to his campaigns. Unfortunately, the law has had at best a small effect on spam levels. Users wanting to be free of spam inevitably end up needing to adopt some kind of spam solution, commercial or otherwise.

Over the years he had inundated inboxes with ads for everything from pirate cable boxes to prescription-less Viagra. It would seem the latter got him in trouble. He was found to be in violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act.

Smith had apparently conspired with a New Jersey doctor to issue bogus prescriptions for internet customers. Smith would then fill them at local pharmacies, and send the drugs on to those who ordered them.

This sentence seems somewhat excessive for the crime. However, Smith's other behavior related to the case has been cited as reason for strict punishment. Smith is accused of attempting to arrange the death of a witness against him in the case. Seems like a nice guy.

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