U.S. Indicts Operator of Newport Internet Marketing Corp. Over Spam

SEATTLE — Have you noticed how much less spam you are receiving?

That’s the question federal authorities are asking Internet surfers after arresting the owner of Newport Internet Marketing Corp., who has been accused of using networks of compromised zombie computers to send out perhaps billions of spam emails.

A federal grand jury last week returned a 35-count indictment against Robert Alan Soloway, charging him with mail fraud, wire fraud, email fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering.

Prosecutors also are seeking to have him forfeit $773,000 they say he made from Newport Internet Marketing.

Soloway, who had been featured on a list of known spammers kept by the Spamhaus Project, advertised his company’s ability to send out as many as 20 million pieces of spam over 15 days for $495, the indictment said.

Prosecutors said Soloway continued his activities even after Microsoft won a $7 million civil judgment against him in 2005 and the operator of a small Internet service provider in Oklahoma won a $10 million judgment.

Soloway pleaded not guilty Wednesday to all charges after a judge determined that he could pay for his own lawyer, despite the seizure of four bank accounts.

If convicted of all the charges, he faces a fine of $250,000 and a maximum prison term of 65 years.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Justices Alito, Thomas Invoke Victorian-Era Morality Law, Raising Censorship Concerns

Several national publications reported this week on widespread concern among Free Speech advocates after U.S. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas repeatedly invoked during a hearing the infamous segregation-era law the Comstock Act, which was the cornerstone of U.S. censorship of sexual material from the 1870s until the 1970s.

Nebraska AV Bill Moves Forward Despite Privacy, Free Speech Concerns

Nebraska’s unicameral Legislature has given first-round approval to LB 1092, the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still pursue antitrust claims in the future.

FSC, Co-Plaintiffs to Ask US Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Texas Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and its co-plaintiffs in the challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law have petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to stay its recent decision upholding the law, because they intend to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law’s constitutionality.

FSC Vows to Fight Florida Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has issued a statement vowing to continue fighting Florida’s new age verification law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday as part of a comprehensive bill targeting minors’ use of social media.

Kansas Republican Aims to Create New Bureaucracy to 'Investigate' Porn Websites

Republican state legislators succeeded Monday in moving forward Kansas’ version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists, despite serious concerns raised by House Democrats about the cost of establishing a new bureaucracy tasked with investigating websites for pornographic content.

Industry Attorney, Free Speech Champion Clyde DeWitt Passes Away at 75

Noted industry attorney Clyde DeWitt passed away on Friday in Las Vegas at 75, according to friends and colleagues.

Texas AG Ken Paxton Sues Chaturbate, xHamster Over Controversial Age Verification Law

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed lawsuits on Tuesday against the parent companies of Chaturbate and xHamster, claiming that the sites are not complying with the state’s controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

GirlsDoPorn's Michael Pratt Extradited From Spain, Pleads 'Not Guilty'

Former GirlsDoPorn owner Michael Pratt made his first appearance in federal court Tuesday following his extradition from Spain Monday night, according to a statement released by the Department of Justice.

Missouri Republican Behind FOSTA-SESTA Renews Attack on OnlyFans

Rep. Ann Wagner, the Missouri Republican legislator who was the original architect of FOSTA-SESTA, has renewed her call for federal action against OnlyFans.

Show More