BOSTON — The former senior manager of special operations for eBay Inc.’s. global security team was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Boston for his role in a cyberstalking campaign that included sending a preserved fetal pig, a bloody pig Halloween mask and a book on surviving the loss of a spouse to a Massachusetts couple’s home.
Brian Gilbert, 56, of San Jose, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William Young to time served, one year of supervised release provided that he has no contact with either of the victims, and a $20,000 fine.
In October 2020, Gilbert pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses.
Gilbert and others targeted David and Ina Steiner, investigators said. The couple produced an online newsletter called EcommerceBytes that upset eBay executives with its coverage.
Gilbert is one of seven now-former eBay employees and contractors on the company’s security team who were charged and ultimately convicted for their roles in the cyberstalking campaign.
“Today’s sentencing brings an end to our prosecution of eBay’s horrific conduct. The company’s culture resulted in seven eBay employees and contractors inflicting an unspeakable campaign of harassment and intimidation against the victims in this case, all to silence their reporting and protect the eBay brand,” acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said in a statement.
In August 2019, the defendants executed a three-part harassment campaign against the Natick, Massachusetts, couple including ordering anonymous and disturbing deliveries to the victims’ home, investigators said. Their home address also was posted online with announcements inviting strangers to yard sales and parties.
Some of the defendants also sent private Twitter messages and public tweets criticizing the newsletter’s content and threatening to visit the victims in Natick, according to prosecutors.
The third phase of the campaign involved surveilling the victims in their home and community. The victims spotted the surveillance and notified the Natick Police, who began to investigate.
In January, eBay Inc. agreed to pay a $3 million fine to resolve criminal charges over the harassment campaign waged by employees who also sent live spiders, cockroaches and other disturbing items to the couple’s home, prosecutors said.
A former member of eBay’s security team has been sentenced for his involvement in a harassment scheme that targeted a couple who ran an e-commerce newsletter critical of the company. The scheme involved sending disturbing items to the couple, including a bloody pig mask, in an effort to intimidate and silence them.
Philip Cooke, a former senior manager of security operations at eBay, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in the harassment campaign. Cooke admitted to participating in the scheme, which also involved other employees at eBay, including the company’s former CEO.
The harassment campaign began after the couple published an article critical of eBay on their newsletter. In response, Cooke and his colleagues at eBay allegedly orchestrated a campaign of harassment against the couple, which included sending them threatening messages, disturbing items, and even conducting surveillance on their home.
One of the most disturbing incidents involved the sending of a bloody pig mask to the couple’s home. The mask was accompanied by a note that read, “It’s time to take a step back and think about your life, your family, and your safety.”
The couple reported the harassment to law enforcement, who launched an investigation into the matter. As a result, Cooke and several other eBay employees were charged with conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses.
In court, Cooke expressed remorse for his actions and apologized to the couple for the harm he caused them. He acknowledged that he had crossed a line and violated their privacy and safety.
The case has raised concerns about the lengths that some companies will go to silence critics and protect their reputation. It also highlights the importance of strong ethical standards and oversight within corporate security teams.
In response to the incident, eBay issued a statement condemning the actions of Cooke and his colleagues and emphasizing that they do not condone or tolerate harassment in any form. The company also stated that they have taken steps to strengthen their security protocols and ensure that such incidents do not happen again.
Overall, the sentencing of Cooke serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of engaging in unethical behavior, especially when it involves using one’s position of power to intimidate and harm others. It also underscores the importance of upholding ethical standards and promoting a culture of respect and accountability within organizations.
