Twisted eBay staff sent live spiders and cockroaches to critical bloggers
Former eBay staffers allegedly sent live spiders and cockroaches to the home of a couple who wrote an online newsletter critical of the company, federal prosecutors said.
It was revealed on Wednesday that the four twisted employees were charged with participating in a cyberstalking campaign in Natick, Massachusetts.
Along with the live insects and bugs, authorities said other disturbing items were sent to the home, including a funeral wreath and a bloody pig Halloween mask.
The group of staffers also sent a pornographic magazine with the husband’s name on it to a neighbors house, and posted the couple’s names and address online, encouraging strangers to come knock on their door, officials said.
There was even a plot break into the couple’s garage and install a GPS device on their car, authorities said.
US Attorney Andrew Lelling said at a news conference that the former staffers engaged in a ‘systematic campaign fueled by the resources of a Fortune 500 company to emotionally and psychologically terrorize this middle-aged couple.’
The four expected to plead guilty are Brian Gilbert, 51; Stephanie Popp, 32; Stephanie Stockwell, 26; and Veronica Zea, 26.
Three out of four were senior managers or held managerial positions in the company.
They are scheduled to be back in court in October, according to the US attorney’s office.
The employees were ultimately fired, the company said.
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