TeamGOD Legal Action -
01-18-2003, 01:46 AM
As promised, this post will be the definitive on legal action, etc against TeamGOD.
First off, I've had several lengthy conversations with the FBI. We discussed the most plausible plans for filing complaints, on whom I could file complaints, and the maximum and likely sentences for each person. The FBI confirmed that a case could easily be made and won based on charges of Denial of Service attacks, proliferation of illicit information, and a form of electronic harassment. These charges would be filed claiming myself as a representative of the gaming community, and on behalf of the entire gaming community, beyond MoH.
The charges discussed were quite serious, more serious than I had anticipated. After reviewing some of the information I had accumulated, the estimated sentencing for one individual, a TeamGOD leader and site admin, was 5 years in a federal prison and a $12,000 fine.
I've spoken with many people, and at great length, concerning this issue. The support I've received from the community has been amazing. There was truly an outpour of genuine concern on this matter, and well there should have been, because it is a serious issue.
However, I regret to inform the community that I will not be pursuing criminal charges, and civil charges are unlikely. I came to this decision because after much consideration, I simply could not sleep well at night knowing that I had ruined the life of another human being over something so petty. I say petty for a lack of better terms. This is serious, but I just cannot justify to myself that this is serious enough to literally destroy the life of another person, and possible the lives of their family as well.
I hope you will all understand the reasons behind my decision, and respect them. My stance on this issue will not shift, so please don't try. This is final.
As for the release of materials. I basically have two choices, I can retain the non-public information I have gathered in the off chance that someone else pursues legal action. Or, I can release the information for all to see, but risk nullifying its use in a court of law.
I have therefore decided to retain the information, which includes screenshots from their private forum area, chat session logs, and videos of servers being crashed, for a period of 60 days. If, at the end of 60 days no one has taken legal action and used this information, it will be released to the public.
Again, my decision on this is final, and I will not be swayed.
If you are interested in taking legal action, that is your personal decision. While I am willing to provide you with definitive evidence, I cannot, myself, testify and directly destroy someone's life over this.
Good luck and fair play,
- Noctis

Chairperson, Coastal Carolina Students for Ron Paul 2008
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