“A 30-year-old New Jersey man has been arrested and charged with
originating the ‘Melissa’ e-mail virus, state officials announced
Friday. David Smith of Aberdeen–described only as ‘a computer
guy’–is charged with several offenses, including interruption of
public communications, which together carry a maximum penalty of
$480,000 in fines and 40 years in prison. Smith was released from
Monmouth County Jail on $100,000 bail.”
“Smith named the virus after a topless dancer from Florida,
where he used to live, the New Jersey attorney general’s office
said.”
“Smith, a network programmer with a company that subcontracted
for AT&T Corp., was snared with the help of America Online
technicians and a computer task force composed of federal and state
agents…”