Less than a year after serving time for extorting money from a Dallas-based company, former search engine optimizer William Laurence Stanley has been indicted for retaliating against the victim. The charges stem from allegations that Stanley posted false and derogatory comments online about the victim company after providing law enforcement with information on his earlier crimes.
Stanley’s initial conviction involved threats to damage the victim company’s reputation, leveraging his SEO skills to ensure negative content would appear prominently in search results. After serving part of his sentence, he was placed on home confinement and then targeted the company again with damaging posts, according to the indictment.
The FBI is investigating Stanley’s latest actions, which have led to significant revenue losses for the victim company. Stanley faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison if convicted of the new charges.
Stanley has been held in custody since November 2016 and has shown no signs of complying with his legal obligations, according to U.S. Magistrate Judge David L. Horan, who found that he is a flight risk. The judge noted Stanley’s ties to Romania and his expressed interest in returning there.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C.S. Heath is handling the prosecution of the case, which highlights the continuing threat posed by cybercriminals who seek to victimize individuals and businesses through online retaliation.
The case serves as a reminder of the serious consequences for those who attempt to undermine justice with further illegal actions following conviction.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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