eBay paid maximum $3 million criminal penalty after admitting corporate cyberstalking and obstruction conduct

Summary

eBay Inc. entered a deferred prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors in January 2024 and agreed to pay a $3 million criminal penalty for a corporate harassment and intimidation campaign targeting a Massachusetts couple who published an online newsletter covering eBay. The criminal case arose from conduct carried out in August 2019 by eBay employees and contractors. Federal prosecutors charged eBay with two counts of stalking through interstate travel, two counts of stalking through electronic communications services, one count of witness tampering and one count of obstruction of justice. As part of the deferred prosecution agreement, eBay admitted to a detailed statement of facts concerning the conduct. The harassment campaign included threatening and disturbing communications and deliveries directed at the couple, surveillance of their home and efforts to intimidate them in retaliation for their reporting about eBay. The criminal resolution also addressed obstruction of the investigation that followed. eBay agreed to pay a $3 million criminal penalty, which DOJ stated was the statutory maximum fine for the six felony offenses charged against the company. The company also agreed to retain an independent corporate compliance monitor for three years and implement extensive enhancements to its compliance program. Primary sources: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts — eBay Inc. to Pay $3 Million in Connection with Corporate Cyberstalking Campaign: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/ebay-inc-pay-3-million-connection-corporate-cyberstalking-campaign-targeting DOJ case page — United States v. eBay, Inc.: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/case/us-v-ebay-inc