The U.S. Department of Justice sentenced two former eBay IncEBAY executives to prison for their roles in a cyberstalking campaign targeting the editor and publisher of a newsletter that eBay executives viewed as critical of the company.
James Baugh, eBay’s former senior director of safety and security, and eBay’s former director of global resiliency, David Harville, pleaded guilty to charges in the case.
Baugh, Harville, and several other eBay executives in 2019 hatched a campaign to harass Ina and David Steiner, the editor, and publisher of eCommercebytes, a website closely followed by online sellers, CNBC reports.
Prosecutors said former eBay CEO Devin Wenig and other leaders inside the company were outraged by their company coverage.
eBay executives repeatedly sent the couple harassing and threatening messages on Twitter Inc TWTR platform.
The campaign escalated further when the Steiners began to receive “disturbing deliveries” to their home outside of Boston.
Additionally, the report noted Craigslist posts appeared online, inviting strangers to experience sexual encounters at the victims’ home.
Baugh, Harville, and others also traveled from California to the Steiners’ home to surveil the couple, prompting them to call the police.
After learning of the police’s investigation, Harville and Baugh deleted digital evidence related to the cyberstalking campaign. Additionally, Baugh made false statements to police and internal investigators and falsified records.
Harville and Baugh were arrested and charged in June 2020.
Five other eBay employees have pleaded guilty to conspiracy in the matter, the report added.
Wenig, who resigned as CEO in 2019, is not named in the case.
The Steiners have filed a separate lawsuit against eBay, Wenig, and former SVP Steve Wymer. Wenig claimed no knowledge of the harassment campaign.
Price Action: EBAY shares traded lower by 0.49% at $37.51 on the last check Friday.
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