Former eBay Workers Plead Guilty To Cyberstalking Couple; Charged For Sending Disturbing Packages From Bloody Halloween Pig Mask To Live Cockroaches
ABP News Bureau | 11 Oct 2020 12:55 PM (IST)
As per prosecutors, the former eBay workers also sent pornography in the couple's name to neighbors and conducted covert surveillance in trying to deter them from criticizing eBay.
In an age of rampant cyber crimes, it’s easy to become victim to stalkers. In this case a two former eBay Inc workers have been pleaded guilty for extensive cyberstalking campaign against a Massachusetts couple whose online newsletter turned critical of the e-commerce company. Former eBay global intelligence team members Stephanie Popp, 33, and Veronica Zea, 26, along with other employees were harassing the couple through Twitter. Also Read: US Prez Donald Trump Refuses To Participate In Next Presidential Debate With Biden After Decision To Make It Virtual In a bid to harass the couple, they sent them disturbing packages like a bloody Halloween pig mask, live cockroaches, and a funeral wreath to the victim’ s home. As per prosecutors, they also sent pornography in the couple's name to neighbors and conducted covert surveillance in trying to deter them from criticizing eBay. The campaign comes in the wake of two top executives expressing anger with the newsletter, EcommerceBytes. The executives included former Chief Executive Devin Wenig, who texted the other executive after the newsletter's editor published an article about eBay, saying it was time to "take her down." However, Wenig has not been charged and denied knowing about the scheme. He is a member of General Motors Co's board. Who has been pleaded guilty? Popp, eBay's former senior manager of global intelligence, and Zea, a contractor who worked as an intelligence analyst are pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit cyberstalking and conspiring to tamper with a witness. They are among seven defendants, including onetime eBay security executives James Baugh and David Harville, who prosecutors said targeted the couple in Natick, Massachusetts, with threatening messages and unwanted deliveries. What is the proposed term? Prosecutors intend to recommend prison terms of 41 months for Popp, and 30 months for Zea, when they are later sentenced.