‘Melissa’ Virus Creator Sentenced to Prison

The creator of the “Melissa” computer virus was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for causing millions of dollars of damage by disrupting e-mail systems worldwide in 1999.

David L. Smith, 34, pleaded guilty in December 1999 to a New Jersey state charge of computer theft and to a federal charge of sending a damaging computer program. In the federal plea, both sides agreed the damage was greater than $80 million.

Smith is believed to be among the first people prosecuted for creating a computer virus.