7th Former eBay Employee Charged In Cyberstalking Campaign Targeting Natick Couple
BOSTON (CBS) – A seventh former eBay employee is now facing federal charges in connection with a cyberstalking campaign that allegedly targeted a Natick couple who wrote critical content about the company in its newsletter.
Philip Cooke, 55, of San Jose, Calif. is charged with conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses. Cooke, who was a former Santa Clara police captain and was supervisor of security operations at eBay's European and Asian offices, is expected to be appear in Boston federal court at a later date.
James Baugh, 45, of San Jose, California, eBay's former director of safety and security and former eBay director of global resiliency David Harville, 48, of New York City, was among the first six charged.
Also charged were Stephanie Popp, 32, of San Jose; Stephanie Stockwell, 26, of Redwood City, Calif.; Veronica Zeak, 26, of San Jose; and Brian Gilbert, 51, of San Jose. Each is charged with conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses.
Federal prosecutors said the eBay employees allegedly ordered deliveries such as a bloody pig Halloween mask, funeral wreath, and pornography that was sent to a neighbor's house.
"It was a determined, systematic effort of senior employees of a major company to destroy the lives of a couple in Natick, all because they published content company executives didn't like," said U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling in June.