Jeremy Jaynes, at one time believed to have been among the top 10 spammers in the world back in 2003, was found guilty of massive distribution of junk email (spam) and sentenced to nine years in prison. It was estimated that Mr. Jaynes at his peak sent ten million emails each day, earning approximately $750,000 a month from his spamming “business”, and although the conviction was upheld, it was by a split vote of 4-3, not overwhelming by any standard.

Justice Elizabeth Lacy wrote in a dissent that the law is “unconstitutionally overbroad on its face because it prohibits the anonymous transmission of all unsolicited bulk e-mail including those containing political, religious or other speech protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.”

Jaynes allegedly used aliases and false Internet addresses to bombard Web users with junk e-mails peddling sham products and services. The court’s majority said misleading commercial speech is not entitled to First Amendment protection.

“Unfortunately, the state that gave birth to the First Amendment has, with this ruling, diminished that freedom for all of us,” Jaynes’ lawyer, Thomas M. Wolf, said in a written statement. “As three justices pointed out in dissent, the majority’s decision will have far reaching consequences. The statute criminalizes sending bulk anonymous e-mail, even for the purpose of petitioning the government or promoting religion.”