14 May 2002
Melissa author sentenced and fined again
David L Smith, the creator of the Melissa Word macro worm,
has received a 10 year prison sentence in a state court, but has
been told he will be out in less than 2 years.
The sentence, laid down by state Superior Court Judge Lawrence
Lawson in New Jersey on May 4, follows Smith's sentencing of 20
months imprisonment and a $5000 fine at an earlier federal court
hearing.
Smith received the maximum "10 year sentence to run concurrently
and co-terminously to the federal sentence", which means that
Smith's sentence will expire when he completes his earlier federal
sentence of 20 months imprisonment.
Smith was also fined $2,500 on a single count of computer theft.
In early 1999 Smith stole another user's AOL account to initially
distribute his virus via a sex usenet newsgroup.
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