Former eBay Inc. senior manager Brian Gilbert was sentenced in federal court in Boston for his involvement in a cyberstalking scheme targeting a Massachusetts couple. Gilbert, 56, received a sentence of time served, one year of supervised release with a no-contact order to the victims, and a $20,000 fine. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses in October 2020.
Investigators revealed that Gilbert and others aimed their actions at David and Ina Steiner, creators of the EcommerceBytes newsletter that had irked eBay executives. The cyberstalking campaign involved sending threatening and disturbing items like a preserved fetal pig, a bloody pig Halloween mask, and a book on dealing with the loss of a spouse to the Steiners’ home.
This case is part of a larger probe into eBay’s corporate culture, with a total of seven former employees and contractors from the company’s security team facing charges and convictions related to the harassment scheme. Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy stated that the sentencing marks the conclusion of the prosecution against eBay’s unacceptable behavior.
The harassment campaign included ordering unsettling deliveries to the Steiners’ home, disclosing their address online for strangers to visit, and sending threatening messages on social media platforms. Additionally, the victims were subjected to surveillance in their home and community, which prompted them to alert the authorities.
Earlier this year, eBay Inc. agreed to pay a $3 million fine to settle criminal charges linked to the harassment campaign conducted by its employees. The employees had also sent live spiders, cockroaches, and other alarming items to the Steiners’ residence.
