AOL worker arrested for stealing 92 million email addresses

An AOL employee has been arrested for allegedly stealing 92 million customer email addresses and selling them onto spammers.

Jason Smathers, 24, from West Virginia, has been charged with conspiracy, along with his alleged accomplice Sean Dunaway of Las Vegas

It is alleged Smathers stole the email addresses while working at AOL's Dulles offices in Virginia and passed them on to Dunaway, who then sold the list on to other companies sending spam email.

Both face a fine of $250,00 and a maximum jail sentence of five years under the US' anti-spam law.

AOL said it has launched its own review of procedures.

A company statement said: "We deeply regret what has taken place and are thoroughly reviewing and strengthening our internal procedures as a result of this investigation and arrest. We take this very seriously, and we will continue to hold spammers fully accountable for their activities, through our own ongoing civil litigation, as well as further cooperation with authorities in criminal spam prosecutions."