MSN Search Exec Accused of Fraud

[Brett_Tabke]

The Seattle Times [seattletimes.nwsource.com] is running a story on the head of retrivial technologies (search engine) being arrested and charged with fraud.

According to an FBI affidavit accompanying the complaint, the accusations stem from an ongoing investigation into current and former Microsoft employees selling high-end applications acquired illegally through the software giant's Internal Product Ordering (IPO) system.

Feussner, director of retrieval technology, was in charge of the search engines at Microsoft.com that are used by tens of millions of people per month, according to a biography he provided to the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club, which he joined this year. A Microsoft spokeswoman said Feussner was fired yesterday but declined to discuss specifics of the case or his employment history.

[Woz]

Press Release [usdoj.gov] from the US Dept of Justice.

Onya
Woz

[Lisa]

I watched the local news here in Seattle the day this broke. They mentioned he had a website so I went to Google and found it. This guy showed all the toys he acquired on his website. What 9M will buy you, wow! I talked to some friends at Microsoft and they all felt personally like they were the victims not just Microsoft.

And for a search engine guy, I wonder why his website was in Frames? It was the ugliest site I have seen since ‘96.

[Hunter]

I love dumb criminals...greed and ego always get them in the end.

[jeremy goodrich]

Personally, I find that very, very amusing. Loved reading the story.

9 million USD. That will buy some *nice* toys, indeed. Just reading about them got me thinking...I need to do some more work.

[Key_Master]

And for a search engine guy, I wonder why his website was in Frames? It was the ugliest site I have seen since ‘96.

Ditto- it was really bad. AT&T did a public service by deactivating the account.

[rafalk]

You just gotta love the fact that Microsoft can't even keep it's own house in order. They're foaming at the mouth about software piracy (as well they should), and yet one of their own executives gets caught doing it.

[mayor]

Maybe he'll need to do a little search engine consulting to pay for his legal fees.

[tedster]

Microsoft can't even keep it's own house in order

Well, to be even handed about it, I don't think any organization that size can be squeaky clean -- human foibles being what they are.

[gsx]

"Microsoft can't even keep it's own house in order"

Not exactly.

The FBI can't keep their house in order? (Search for Robert Hanssen)
CIA? (Search for Larry Wun Tai Chin, Aldrich Ames)
American Army? (Search for Christopher Boyce)
US Navy? (Search for John Walker, Jerry Whitworth)

If there is a responsible position in a job, there will always be people who take advantag of it.

[andrey_sea]

A fascinating story, hard to belive he was in charge of so much at MS and was running such a dumb operation! Talking about screwing up your life for some silly toys, I am sure he was well compensated...

[Macguru]

>>screwing up your life for some silly toys

You dont believe in rehabilitation [vif.com] andrey_sea?

[Liane]

Talking about screwing up your life for some silly toys

Wow ... those are some toys! What a shame that some people's children just can't keep their hands out of the cookie jar. Truly a foolish move ... and he's only 32. What a waste.

[Dave2]

They mentioned he had a website so I went to Google and found it

So to add insult to injury you didn't even use his technology? :)

[lazyz]

He used the proceeds to purchase luxury items such as expensive watches and jewelry, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, a Hummer automobile, a Mercedes 500 SEL automobile, a Ferrari 355 TB Coupe automobile, a Jaguar Vandenplas automobile, and a 51 foot yacht.

Crime doesn't pay...

[bird]

a native of Munich

Yeah, sounds like the typical village idiot from around here... ;)