A federal judge has sentenced a suburban Detroit man described as one of the world's most prolific senders of spam e-mail to more than four years in prison for his role in a 2005 stock fraud scheme that netted him $2.7 million.

Alan Ralsky of Oakland County's West Bloomfield Township pleaded guilty in June to fraud and acknowledged that he sent millions of unsolicited e-mails trying to influence Chinese stock prices.

Ralsky told Detroit U.S. District Judge Marianne Battani during Monday's sentencing that he took full responsibility for his crimes.

He said his company specialized in mass Internet mailings, and he entered the business with good intentions.

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