Iowan Jayson Harris was just 21 years old when he was caught phishing MSN customers. Now, two years wiser, the Davenport resident has been sentenced to 21 months in prison, after pleading guilty to wire fraud in connection with access devices.

The man dubbed by Microsoft as the MSN Billing Phisher (anybody remember the Wet Bandits?) admitted that, from January 2003, through 21 June 2004, he executed a scheme to obtain credit card account numbers and other personal information under false and fraudulent pretenses, and in the process, transmitted e-mail across state lines.

Harris also admitted that he created a fake Microsoft MSN website, then sent e-mails to MSN customers requesting that they visit the website and update their accounts by providing credit card account numbers and other personal information. Harris falsely promised MSN customers that they would get a 50% credit towards their next monthly bill.

Microsoft tripped over the scheme, then handed it over to the FBI and the Davenport police. FBI agents subsequently raided the phisher’s residence… actually, feds say it’s his grandpa’s home.

Agents seized several computers which, when checked by the FBIs Computer Analysis Response Team, turned up evidence of the phishing scam. In August 2005, he was arrested.

Harris stipulated that he had suckered between 50 and 250 victims, but according to Assistant Federal Defender Kevin Cmelik, he did not agree with the government’s assertion that he had tried to use at least three credit cards.

In fact, Harris apparently never got around to monetizing his scam. Cmelik said, “I don’t think there’s any question that Harris didn’t make any money.”

That’s why Senior US District Judge Harold D. Vietor billed him just $57,294.07 for the investigations, plus a $200 kicker for the crime victims fund.

Nevertheless, Al Overbaugh of the US Department of Justice says Harris is still the biggest phisher ever in Iowa’s Southern District. Fact is, he’s not just the biggest. Harris is the only phisher brought to justice in all of Iowa. Ever.

And he never made a dime.

Once he’s out, Harris will enjoy a three-year supervised release on each of two counts stemming from his earlier guilty plea to wire fraud.

He is currently free and awaiting permanent housing arrangements via the US Bureau of Prisons. With earned credit, Harris could end out serving as little as a year-and-a-half.

Harris is lucky. If he had used the cards, he might have drawn up to 30 years and a million-dollar fine.

His family members, on the other hand, aren’t so lucky. They have to live with the stain.

And that doesn’t go over too well in Iowa.

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