Michael Persaud, 36, of Scottsdale, Ariz., has been hit with a federal indictment over a sprawling cyber spam operation that flooded networks with more than a million fraudulent emails. The 10-count indictment, returned December 9, 2016, in Chicago, accuses Persaud of orchestrating a sophisticated wire fraud scheme using deceptive tactics to hijack internet infrastructure and profit from digital deception.
Using a technique known as “snowshoe spamming,” Persaud allegedly routed spam through at least nine separate networks by cycling through multiple IP addresses and domains. He masked his identity by registering domains under false names and fabricating “From Address” headers to conceal his role as the sender. The indictment also charges him with illegally trafficking millions of stolen email addresses, fueling a spam enterprise that stretched across the U.S. and abroad.
Persaud allegedly posed as a legitimate client to gain access to network services, swearing he’d abide by anti-spam policies—then weaponizing the same systems to blast out mass emails. Operating under the name of a California shell company, Impact Media LLC, and other aliases like ‘Michael Prescott,’ ‘Michael Pearson,’ and ‘Jeff Martinez,’ he sent spam for third-party vendors and collected commissions on sales generated by the fraudulent campaigns.
When networks caught on and cut off his access, Persaud didn’t stop—he doubled down. The indictment details how he used fake IDs, including forged driver’s licenses and debit card information, to sign up with new providers under fresh aliases. These deceitful maneuvers allowed him to maintain a relentless spam operation, dodging detection while damaging computer networks and eroding digital trust.
Persaud was arrested last month in Arizona and made his first appearance in Chicago federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan E. Cox. He pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance, with strict travel limits—only permitted to leave Arizona for court hearings in Chicago. A status hearing is set for February 21, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood.
The charges, announced by top prosecutors from Illinois and Wisconsin and backed by FBI field offices in Chicago and Milwaukee, carry serious consequences. Each count of wire fraud could land Persaud up to 20 years behind bars. The government is seeking forfeiture of four computers tied to the scheme. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Romero and Michael Chmelar are prosecuting the case. As always, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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