Millionaire Spammer Soloway’s Career Began at 16: IRS

Robert Soloway, the man arrested last week for allegedly sending millions of spam e-mails and touting electronic messaging software and services that didn’t work as advertised, deposited more than $1.6 million in various bank accounts from 2003 to 2006—all as the result of spam and fraud, according to an affidavit from the Internal Revenue Service.

Moreover, Soloway started his e-mailing business in 1996 when he was 16 and has never worked for anyone else, according to the affidavit.

“From the bank records, investment and account statements, and various financial documents described and referenced within this affidavit, I have determined that Soloway and [his company] NIM’s fraud and spamming scheme … generated income in excess of $1 million from 2003 to 2006,” said the affidavit by Special Agent Silvia Reyes of the IRS.

The affidavit then lists 16 bank accounts with total deposits of more than $1.6 million from 2003 to 2006.

Soloway reportedly used multiple bank accounts to cover his tracks and hide assets.

Though Microsoft won a $7.8 million judgment against him in 2005, the company reportedly has never been able to collect because it couldn’t locate his bank accounts.

IRS Agent Reyes’ statement was one of the documents used to obtain a search warrant for Soloway’s home, and a storage facility he allegedly used. The Federal Bureau of Investigation supplied an affidavit, as well.

Soloway was arrested last week on 35 charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, e-mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to prosecutors, Soloway’s company, Newport Internet Marketing, defrauded customers by offering to send bulk e-mail on their behalf or to sell software so they could do it themselves. Both options resulted in millions of spam e-mails and did not generate the sales for customers Soloway advertised, prosecutors alleged. When customers complained, Soloway would threaten to charge them more fees and refer them to collection agencies.

“If you dispute the charge your debt will be forwarded to our collection agency with an additional $250 service charge by them, which if not paid will be forwarded to the 3 US Credit Agencies, in turn negatively affecting your credit rating for the next 7 years not paying said debt owed, and will appear on your credit report indicating you refused to pay a $399 debt that you own,” said one grammatically and spelling-challenged message from NIM to a dissatisfied customer, according to an affidavit from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “We do not stand for theft at our corporation.”