Ebay executive given nearly five years for terrorizing couple reporting on firm

David and Ina Steiner were sent live spiders, cockroaches and funeral wreaths among other things by executives to harass them

A former eBay executive was sentenced on Thursday to almost five years in prison for leading a scheme to terrorize the creators of an online newsletter that included sending live spiders, cockroaches, a funeral wreath and other disturbing deliveries to their home.

David Steiner, who along with his wife was the target of the harassment campaign, told the court that eBay's former senior director of safety and security James Baugh and other eBay employees made their lives a living hell". He expressed fear that other companies would use it as a blueprint to go after journalists in the future.