eBay has agreed to pay a $3m (£2.36m) fine to resolve harassment charges against bloggers critical of the company.
The US Attorney's Office in the District of Massachusetts said Jim Baugh, eBay's former senior director of safety and security, had targeted the couple for producing EcommerceBytes, a newsletter that the company's executives were unhappy with.
The acts of intimidation included sending live insects, a foetal pig and a funeral wreath to the Steiners' home in Natick, Massachusetts.
Baugh and his associates also installed a GPS tracking device on the couple's car and created posts on the website Craigslist inviting sexual encounters at their home, according to the filings.
Baugh's lawyers said he faced pressure from former eBay CEO Devin Wenig to reign in the Steiners over their coverage of the company.
"eBay engaged in absolutely horrific, criminal conduct," acting Massachusetts US Attorney Josh Levy told the AP news agency by email.
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