The presiding Judge will also hear from prosecutors and the two defendants themselves - the 6th and 7th former eBay employees charged in the case thus far - before she announces their sentences. Having been at the hearing of the first defendant sentenced last year, we know it's an emotional and somber time for every person in the room.
We will make at least two more trips into Boston this fall to tell a judge how four other defendants upended our lives and impacted our business before he sentences them.
When the US Attorney announced the arrests of the two high-level eBay security executives on June 15, 2020, he did not name the victims, but people quickly figured out that I am "Victim 1" and David is "Victim 2." It still feels surreal and painful to write those words.
Five of the seven people the government charged in 2020 pled guilty, but these two defendants were scheduled to go to trial on May 31, 2022. During the lengthy discovery phase of the criminal case, made longer due to Covid, we learned more about the defendants and their unindicted coconspirators and much more about how eBay responded to the government's investigation.
If you've been an EcommerceBytes reader for any length of time, you can imagine that under normal circumstances I would be reporting on it extensively. After all, we've been covering ecommerce and online marketplaces for over 20 years. But through no fault of my own, I was part of the story and found myself a "victim witness" who might have to testify.
It's been particularly difficult to watch others write about the case and fail to address corporate responsibility.
While we were spared the ordeal of the May trial, we were deprived of the information that would have come out during the proceedings. We believe everyone who played a role should be held accountable.
Last year David and I brought a civil RICO case against those we believe were responsible for the criminal campaign, including former eBay CEO Devin Wenig, CCO Steve Wymer, and eBay itself. While it was a difficult decision, we firmly believe it was the right thing to do.
We still have many questions, the answers to which would help us heal and possibly regain some trust we've lost. We can only continue to try to do what feels right and what is best for us, our families, friends and neighbors, and readers.
In June 2020, so many of you reached out with messages of support. Even a year later when David and I went back and re-read them, it was emotional. Many of you offered prayers and told us how much our efforts have helped you over the years. At a very vulnerable time, your support meant so much to us and continues to do so. At some point in the future, we hope to be able to share much more about the ordeal.
I hope you'll continue to send your positive energy, particularly this week.
As always, thanks for reading.
It's the evening of September 28. David and I are getting ready to drive to the Moakley Federal Courthouse in Boston tomorrow to tell a judge how we were impacted by two men who confessed this year to cyberstalking and surveilling us in 2019.
A Special Message for EcommerceBytes Readers
by: toolguy 