Six eBay employees allegedly sent a bloody pig mask and live cockroaches to a couple who criticised the company in a newsletter.
According to reports, the harassment involved sending the editor and publisher of the newsletter 'disturbing deliveries'.
The group also allegedly sent the pair a book of advice on how to survive the death of a spouse because the newsletter contained content company executives "didn’t like", US Attorney Andrew Lelling said.
They also are said to have travelled to Massachusetts, where the couple lived, to conduct “covert surveillance” of them.
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, were among the six charged by the FBI and federal prosecutors with cyberstalking.
Also charged were Stephanie Popp, 32, of San Jose, Stephanie Stockwell, 26, of Redwood City, California, 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.
Mr Lelling told CBSN Boston : "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."
According to Mr Lelling, the couple, who live in Natick, write and publish a newsletter the covers ecommerce companies.
Prosecutors said members of eBay’s executive leadership team followed the newsletter and took issue with the content and anonymous comments under the stories.
Last year, two members of those involved reportedly sent or forwarded text messages saying it was time to “take down” the newsletter’s editor. One of the messages said the group wanted to “crush this lady,” referring to the editor.
Speaking about the deliveries that were sent to the pair, Mr Lelling added: "They included fly larvae and live spiders, a box of live cockroaches, a sympathy wreath on the occasion of the death of a loved one, a book of advice on how to survive the death of a spouse, pornography mailed to their next door neighbors but in the couple’s names, Halloween masks featuring the face of the bloody pig, and the pig fetus which was ordered, but after an inquiry by the supplier, thankfully, wasn’t ever sent."
The group allegedly posted an advert on Craigslist claiming to be from the Natick couple inviting “singles, couples and swingers” to their house to party after 10 p.m. every night.
“People were encouraged to knock on the couple’s door, anytime day or night,” said Lelling.
All six employees were later fired by eBay.
In a statement, the online company said: "eBay was notified by law enforcement in August 2019 of suspicious actions by its security personnel toward a blogger, who writes about the Company, and her husband.
"eBay immediately launched a comprehensive investigation. As a result of the investigation, eBay terminated all involved employees, including the Company’s former Chief Communications Officer, in September 2019."
The independent special committee formed by eBay’s Board of Directors to oversee the Company’s investigation into this matter said, “eBay took these allegations very seriously from the outset. Upon learning of them, eBay moved quickly to investigate thoroughly and take appropriate action.
"The Company cooperated fully and extensively with law enforcement authorities throughout the process. eBay does not tolerate this kind of behavior.
"eBay apologises to the affected individuals and is sorry that they were subjected to this.
"eBay holds its employees to high standards of conduct and ethics and will continue to take appropriate action to ensure these standards are followed.”
