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Man pleads guilty in spamming scheme that generated $1.3M

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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A Florida man has admitted his role in a computer hacking and identity theft scheme that federal prosecutors in New Jersey say generated $1.3 million in illegal profits.

Timothy Livingston recently pleaded guilty to two conspiracy counts and an aggravated identity theft charge. The 31-year-old Boca Raton man faces up to 10 years in prison when he's sentenced Jan. 27.

Authorities say Livingston operated a business known as A Whole Lot of Nothing that sent spam emails on behalf of clients including legitimate businesses such as insurance companies and illegal ones such as online pharmacies.

Livingston also had a New Jersey man write computer programs that sent spam in a way that concealed its true origin and bypassed spam filters.

Livingston also admitted hacking into individual email accounts and utilizing corporate mail servers to further his efforts.

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