A Kentucky plumber who says he found it "intoxicating" to be admired for his computer skills received probation for his role in an international scheme that sent out millions of spam messages.
Ryan Neil Green is one of about 70 people charged worldwide after the FBI disabled an enterprise that infected at least 77,000 computers.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that the 32-year-old Green, of Paducah, was sentenced to two years of probation during a federal court hearing Tuesday in Pittsburgh. Green had pleaded guilty to hacking computers and making them send out spam messages.
Green wrote to the judge that "it was intoxicating" to get attention online for his computer skills.
His lawyer says he is now using his skills legally to help small businesses.
