1. Evil 2. ??? 3. PROFIT 4. Jail

September 10, 2012 9:19 PM

Vitaly Borker, seller of counterfeit frames and gamer of google rankings, has been sentenced to four years in jail. "Vitaly Borker was an Internet shopper’s worst nightmare," said the US attorney. “Borker operated behind the veil of the Internet and aliases to first defraud his victims and then, if they complained, terrorize them with threats, intimidation and harassment.” Previously.
posted by Dolores Haze (18 comments total)

Mr. Amorosa also contended that only a tiny fraction of Mr. Borker’s customers were threatened and that his business was otherwise a thriving enterprise. DecorMyEyes had thousands of repeat customers, he said, and millions of dollars in revenue.

“He threatened, horribly, 25 people,” Mr. Amorosa said, suggesting that was a small number, given the scale of the company.

Ah yes, the old Herman Cain defense.
posted by PlusDistance at 9:35 PM on September 10, 2012 [3 favorites]

Also, previously.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:40 PM on September 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

Excellent. I don't believe for one second that he is remorseful for anything other than getting into trouble, either.
posted by Xoebe at 9:48 PM on September 10, 2012 [4 favorites]

Excellent!
posted by dobbs at 10:43 PM on September 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

A happy ending!
posted by Artw at 10:49 PM on September 10, 2012

Artw: A happy ending!

I dunno. Given the state of prisons in this country, I'm not sure it is.
posted by Malor at 10:59 PM on September 10, 2012 [2 favorites]

Infamous counterfeit sunglass dealer nabbed for child porn

Apparently the cops found it when they seized his computers.
posted by ryanrs at 12:00 AM on September 11, 2012

Vitaly Borker was an Internet shopper’s worst nightmare

I've had worse Internet shopping nightmares. One time I went all the way through the checkout without knowing the price of the thing and then I clicked "OK" and they didn't even give me a confirmation number and it turned out that the price of the thing didn't include shipping, which was, like, $400, and then the thing didn't arrive, and when it did it wasn't the same thing I ordered in the first place.

So yeah, I've been hurt. Thank you for listening to my pain.
posted by twoleftfeet at 12:19 AM on September 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

I've had worse Internet shopping nightmares.

Somebody didn't read the article, did they?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:49 AM on September 11, 2012 [3 favorites]

How on earth is DecorMyEyes still in business? Did he sell it? If not it's gonna be awfully hard for this meathead to run, considering he's not allowed near the internet for at least 7 years.

Furthermore, becoming so notorious while peddling counterfeit goods is hardly a good idea. The brand owners will be next in line to give him a good legal spanking. And if he thinks that jail is tough, wait until he meets the lawyers of big luxury-good brands...
posted by Skeptic at 2:58 AM on September 11, 2012

Perhaps his name should have been a clue...
posted by fairmettle at 3:20 AM on September 11, 2012

I've had worse Internet shopping nightmares.

Probably not.

He admitted that he had scared dissatisfied customers with phone calls and e-mails, in some cases vowing rape, murder or dismemberment, according to prosecutors.

and

When she tried to return the frames and get a refund, Mr. Borker (using one of his favorite pseudonyms, Tony Russo) commenced a campaign of phone and e-mail harassment.

That included threats of litigation and chilling statements like “You put your hand in fire. Now it’s time to get burned.”

He also sent a photograph of the front of her apartment building, and in a separate e-mail wrote “I AM WATCHING YOU.”

Also, his mom got on the phone and said her name was Helen Waite.
posted by pracowity at 3:26 AM on September 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

Four years doesn't seem like enough.
posted by MegoSteve at 4:46 AM on September 11, 2012

Four years doesn't seem like enough.

From the "Infamous counterfeit sunglass dealer nabbed for child porn" headline ryanrs highlights, I doubt that's all he's getting. I half suspect that the ambitious DA might seek to kill two birds with one stone by getting him a ban from going online due to the CP.
posted by jaduncan at 5:45 AM on September 11, 2012

"Borker, 36, was charged with 60 counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child and two counts of possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, officials said.

The NYPD Computer Crimes Squad and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service nabbed Borker at his home Thursday, officials said. If convicted, he faces 1 1/3 to 4 years for each charge."

That's what, a potential 80 year minimum for a 36 year old? He's entered a not guilty plea, but even if he plea bargains at the courthouse doors it's hard to see that not being at least 20-30 years time as a convicted sex offender, plus extreme restrictions when he comes out.

I would think that he will eventually plea bargain though; I can't believe his lawyer would advise him to go to a jury over this as it's not like juries are exactly sympathetic over the whole CP thing.
posted by jaduncan at 5:49 AM on September 11, 2012

a merchant with the illiterate name of "Decor my eyes?"

Anyone else start humming Jackson Browne after reading the name?

I've had worse Internet shopping nightmares.

I feel your pain.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:56 AM on September 11, 2012

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy...
posted by acb at 8:28 AM on September 11, 2012

Now he can finally test on prisoners!
posted by hal9k at 9:46 AM on September 11, 2012