Robert Alan Soloway, described by many as one of the world’s biggest spammers, was arrested yesterday in Seattle for Internet crimes. He is accused of using “zombie” computers to send millions of spam emails to individuals and businesses.

Last week a federal grand jury handed down an indictment against Soloway, listing 35 counts that included: mail fraud, wire fraud, e-mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

“Zombie” computers are computers that are taken over with computer code, and the owners typically never know their machine is under the control of someone else. These controlled machines are then used to send massive, bulk spam emails. In Soloway’s case, he used the compromised computers to send bulk e-mails that invited people to use his Internet marketing company to advertise their products via email advertisements. Soloway’s company adversited the aility to send up to 20 million emails over 15 days, at a cost of $495.

It is said that Soloway got rich from this spamming… driving a high-end Mercedes and living in an expensive apartment. Microsoft won a $7 million civil judgment against Soloway in 2005 and an ISP in Oklahoma has alswo won a $10 million judgment against him.

U.S. Attorney Jeff Sullivan said this case is the first in the country to use identity theft statutes to prosecute a spammer who takes over someone else’s domain name. The investigation began after numerous complaints about Soloway, who was featured on a list of known spammers kept by The Spamhaus Project.

Patrick at Badger Blogger has audio of Michael McGee on the radio this morning. He said in part:

It’s the government trying to be nosey in somebody’s personal business. This is a family altercation. They wasn’t even… you know.. us trying to kill somebody anyway. And they got brother ___ . Come on. As much as he done did for people. The people just got to understand that, you know, it’s a family situation. And a young guy Pierre and his family. We never talked about hurtin’ him or killin’ him. I just want people to know that…that the government is tryin’ to use our language against us. Don’t even know what we talkin’ about.You know, I just want people to understand that…

And even on the federal side…entrapment, tryin’ to set me up, so I need people’s support. A lot of peopl… who put me in… Put up $100 we could get outta here.

He says “they” are creating hurdles for him to get out of jail. Yeah. That’s called BAIL.

And he sang a song about being soldiers. Wow. Impressive.

UPDATE: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is repearting that the “beat-down” is related to a theft of $4,800 cash and a semiautomatic gun from Little Stewart’s home. Stewart is one of the co-conspirators. McGee refers above to Pierre Crawley, a man who lived with Stewart for a period of time and was suspected of committing the burglary. It is alleged that McGee, Stewart, and Dimitrius Jackson were looking for the victim and discussed “quick-sanding” Crawley, as well as “peeling back his wig” and “sewing his cap together.

Details are out about the state charges against Milwaukee alderman Michael McGee (Jackson) of solicitation to commit a felony/conspiracy and solicitation to commit a felony/substantial battery. McGee was charged with Little Stewart and Dimitrius Jackson in Milwaukee county court yesterday.

McGee’s attorney is claiming that there was a misinterpretation of the slang. Wrong! McGee and his conspirators discussed “peeling back his wig” and Rick Eisenberg does a great job of illustrating what that means. I don’t think anyone is confused. They also discussed “sewing his cap together.”

McGee and his conspirators allegdly discussed a $3,000 fee for the murder, but then agreed on just a “beat down” for $1,000.

The police immediately went into action on Monday to arrest McGee and his associates, and to get the intended target of the crime into protective custody. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has all the details.

Barry Minkow and the Fraud Discovery Institute have just released a report indicating that Ladd McNamara, the Usana spokesperson, Advisory Board member, and high level distributor lost his medical license in Ohio due to fraud. It was previously reported by Minkow that McNamara was practicing medicine in California without a valid medical license.

According to the latest report:

I was wondering something… How long can Michael McGee (Jackson) continue to collect his paycheck as alderman? Now that he ‘s been charged at both the federal and state levels, things look pretty grim for him. How long will it take to cut off the cashflow?

Badger Blogger did a great rundown of all the criminal activites, arrests, and inappropriate behavior from Junior McGee over the last year or two. It’s fascinating:

All of the other arrests weren.t enough. the perjury, the affair, the threatening to kill the mother of his illegitimate child while in a courtroom, the restraining orders, these weren.t enough.

The continued racial language on the public airwaves, the threat to hang Leon Todd and to punch State Senator Tim Carpenter and the open hatred against the homosexual community weren.t enough.

Making racially charged .jokes. and and the constant use of .the N-word. on the radio and in public, and threats to throw bricks through the windows of passing cars wasn.t enough.

Having two (that we know of) identities, including two social security numbers, and changing names to get out of paying a judgment against him after a car accident wasn.t enough.

Dodging the sheriffs department for several day when they tried to serve him with one of the restraining orders against him wasn.t enough.

Making harassing phone calls and giving out the personal phone numbers of political opponents and radio producers on a competing station, on their radio show wasn.t enough.

Using his .Respect Kampaign. to promote the Stop Snitchin. movement and calling the past District Attorney a .Dumb Ass. wasn.t enough.

But now, finally, the MJS Editorial Board thinks that there is reason enough for McGee to resign. Better late than never, I guess.

Great post, Patrick. Maybe this time we can get rid of him?

Today’s federal charges against Milwaukee alderman Michael McGee (Jackson) are becoming clearer as the media talks to witnesses.

WISN 12 News in Milwaukee interviewed Ajit Singh, who owns 2 gas stations in McGee’s district. He says he was forced to pay McGee/Jackson in order to help get his 24-hour operating licenses renewed. He had two licenses up for renewal, and McGee demanded $2,000 to help him get them renewed.

The evidence of the crimes allegedly includes recordings from an undercover agent wearing a wire, as well as recordings of phone conversations. When Singh handed McGee the money, an undercover agent was allegedly present.

State charges were filed today as well, but they are under seal as of right now. The charges are related to “substantial battery,” and it is believed that McGee threatened violence against someone in this shakedown scheme.

The Fraud Discovery Institute released the following today:

According to an affidavit by Christopher Crane, “Dr.” Ladd McNamara has been praciticing medicine in California without a license. According to the affidavit, Mr. McNamara prescribed medications for Mr. Crane on more than one occasion.

The prescriptions were filled at a CVS Pharmacy in Oceanside, California, and Mr. Crane says that Mr. McNamara stated he was not licensed in California and had to “stay under the radar” with the prescriptions.

U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic just announced some of the charges against Milwaukee alderman Michael McGee (Michael Jackson). The criminal complaint alleges extortion and bribery related to McGee’s duties as alderman.

The investigation began a year ago as business owners complained to the FBI about being asked to give McGee cash in exchange for favorable treatment on licensing matters. There were multiple store owners who complained, and federal and local authorities have been investigating, using undercover and electronic monitoring techniques.

It looks like there are more federal charges and more people to be indicted, but this is all under seal. It also looks like there will be state charges too, but those have not yet been made public.

UPDATE: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the following with regard to the potential state charges:

Police said this morning that McGee was arrested at 5:30 p.m. Monday. A clerk at the jail today declined to release McGee’s arrest and detention report for the booking saying that all information would be redacted from it.

A mug shot, however, shows that McGee was booked in on felony charges for:

• Substantial battery/intend bodily harm, party to a crime.
• Substantial battery-intend bodily harm.
• Conspiracy.

Las Vegas personal injury lawyer Noel Gage has been charged in connection with an alleged conspiracy to inflate medical costs to increase settlements with plaintiffs. He is charged with 18 felonies, which include conspiracy, mail fraud, money laundering, aiding and abetting and obstruction of justice.

The grand jury indictment of Gage alleges that he exchanged referrals with Howard Awand, who was posing as a medical consultant to recruit a network of doctors and lawyers to inflate personal injury claims. In one instance, it is believed that Gage paid over $1 million to Awand without the knowledge of the plaintiff. Gage is also alleged to have paid a doctor over $430,000 from the case.

It is alleged that Gage sent his clients to doctors participating in this network, and the doctors treated patients without being paid until claims were settled. It is further alleged that the doctors charged grossly inflated prices.

The U.S. Attorney’s office says that more indictments are forthcoming in the case, and that the investigation is wide-reaching.

Milwaukee alderman Michael McGee (Jackson) has been arrested again. No one is saying what he was arrested for, but the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office has said that their office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will release information tomorrow. McGee/Jackson is a criminal and an embarassment to our community. I can’t wait to see what he’s accused of doing this time.

UPDATE: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the following:

McGee is under investigation for potential public corruption charges, according to sources familiar with the probe, which has been placed under seal. Further details are expected tomorrow when U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic and Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm are expected to hold a joint news conference.

It was unclear where and under what circumstances McGee was arrested, but the sources said the arrest was made earlier than planned because investigators suspected the potential for violence.

How long will it take for McGee or his daddy to claim this is just racism? It’s 10:38 pm now. I’m giving it about 7 hours.