Man pleads guilty to week-long spamming spree

New York (NY) - Adam Vitale has pleaded guilty to sending over one million unsolicited e-mails to AOL customers over the span of six days, which could lead to a substantial fine and over a decade in prison.

According to news wire IDGNS, the US Secret Service planted a fake project for Vitale to deliver advertisements to as many people as possible, in exchange for half of all profits the messages garnered. They were then able to track down his location and charge him with e-mail fraud.

The 26-year-old Vitale was allegedly in tandem with Todd Moeller, a co-defendant who pled not guilty. The two reportedly sent around 1.2 million e-mails to AOL users between August 17 and August 23, 2005.

Vitale will begin sentencing hearings on September 13. The e-mail fraud charges carry a maximum sentence of 11 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Moeller will stand trial for the same charges, with a court date yet to be announced.