Final defendant in eBay stalking case against Natick couple has been sentenced

BOSTON — The final defendant in a case in which eBay employees stalked and harassed a Natick couple due to their critical analysis of the company has been sentenced.

Brian Gilbert, 56, of San Jose, California, was sentenced on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Boston to time served, one year of supervised release and a $20,000 fine. He was also ordered to have no contact with either victim.

Gilbert had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses.

The victims, Ina and David Steiner, run an e-commerce news site, EcommerceBytes , where they published articles that were critical of eBay, a multinational e-commerce company.

'Horrific, criminal conduct': EBay will pay $3 million to settle criminal charges in harassment case

In retaliation, Jim Baugh, then eBay's senior director of safety and security , and six other security team members targeted the couple. They harassed the couple online, using false names on social media sites and making threats.

They also mailed disturbing items to the couple's Natick home, including a pig fetus, a bloody pig's mask, live insects, a funeral wreath and a book about surviving the death of a spouse. They also used craigslist to invite people to the home late at night or early in the morning for supposed sex parties.

Seven arrests made after couple realized they were being followed

Natick police began an investigation after the couple realized they were being followed. Police, with the assistance of federal authorities, identified those involved and all seven were arrested.

Gilbert, former senior manager of special operations for eBay’s Global Security team, was the final member of the conspiracy to be sentenced.

Baugh was sentenced to 57 months in prison in September 2022. David Harvill, director of global resiliency, was sentenced that month to two years in prison. Stephanie Popp, a senior manager of global intelligence, was sentenced in October 2022 to one year in prison. Philip Cook, a senior manager for security operations, was sentenced in July 2021 to 18 months in prison and 12 months of home confinement. Stephanie Stockwell and Veronica Zea, who also worked in the intelligence division, were each sentenced to one year of home confinement in October 2022 and November 2022, respectively.

'Paralyzed with fear': Natick couple sues eBay, company officials for harassment campaign

The company had previously agreed to pay a $3 million federal penalty in connection with the case.

“Today’s sentencing brings an end to our prosecution of eBay’s horrific conduct," acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy said in a prepared statement. "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.”

The Steiners have filed a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Boston against eBay and the conspirators. That case is scheduled to go to trial in March 2025.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Final defendant in eBay stalking case against Natick couple has been sentenced