In a shocking development, two former eBay Inc employees have confessed to their involvement in a cyber stalking campaign directed at a Massachusetts couple, whose online newsletter was perceived as critical of the e-commerce behemoth by top executives.
Federal prosecutors in Boston have revealed that Stephanie Stockwell and Brian Gilbert, both former eBay employees, along with others, participated in a disturbing harassment campaign via Twitter and sent unsettling packages to the couple in August 2019. These packages included eerie items like a bloody Halloween pig mask, live spiders, and cockroaches.
Stockwell, the former manager of eBay’s global intelligence center, and Gilbert, a former senior manager of special operations for its global security team, have pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to commit cyber stalking and conspiring to tamper with a witness. They are the latest among a group of former eBay security and global intelligence team members to admit their culpability, with three other former employees having previously pleaded guilty.
During a virtual hearing conducted due to the coronavirus pandemic, Gilbert expressed remorse, saying, «I made a mistake, and I need to take responsibility for it.»
In their plea agreement, prosecutors have recommended a 24-month prison sentence for Stockwell and a maximum of 37 months for Gilbert.
These guilty pleas are part of a broader case involving seven defendants, including former eBay security executives James Baugh and David Harville. Prosecutors allege that they targeted the couple residing in Natick, Massachusetts, with menacing messages and unsolicited deliveries. The defendants also allegedly conducted covert surveillance in an attempt to intimidate the couple and discourage them from criticizing eBay.
This campaign was initiated following the expressed frustration of two top eBay executives concerning the couple’s newsletter, EcommerceBytes. While former CEO Devin Wenig has been identified in court documents as «Executive 1,» he has not faced charges related to the scheme and has consistently denied any knowledge of it. Wenig’s spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of cyber stalking and harassment, even within corporate settings. It underscores the imperative of accountability in upholding justice. For more updates on this developing story, stay tuned to.
