'Spam King' Dethroned!

Mail fraud, identity theft, wire fraud, money laundering, and more -- 35 counts altogether. It was all just another day at the office for Robert Solway: a wealthy 27-year-old man who has been dubbed the "King of Spam."

How rich? According to prosecutor Kathryn Warmac, Solway has been living in a "ritzy apartment" and cruising around in an expensive and flashy Mercedes-Benz convertible.

Yes, he reaped those rewards for annoying us all with insidious junk email. (Sources: itwire.com.au and abcnews.go.com)

Arrested and imprisoned, Solway earns the dubious distinction of being the first spammer in the U.S. to be indicted under the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003.

In a shocking act of arrogance and defiance, Solway has boldly pleaded "not guilty" to his crimes, despite a litany of evidence against him. He was denied bail -- not a good sign for him -- and faces up to 65 years in jail if found guilty.

Does this mean less spam in our mailboxes? Unfortunately, the answer is no.

Solway's arrest is similar to a Mafia don or gang member being taken down -- or the death of a pope, politician, or member of royalty. The "King" can (and easily will) be replaced by the next "Prince" in line for the throne.

Spam is a worldwide epidemic, with the worst offenders now residing in Russia and parts of Eastern Europe. The U.S. -- Solway's home base -- and China are also spamming hotbeds. (Source: itwire.com.au)

"He's one of the top 10 spammers in the world," revealed Microsoft Corp. lawyer Tim Cranton, who is also the senior director of the company's Worldwide Internet Safety Programs. "He's a huge problem for our customers. This is a very good day." (Source: abcnews.go.com)

Indeed!