HONOLULU -- Texas' attorney general sued a Kailua man on Tuesday for allegedly sending hundreds of thousands of spam e-mails to Texans.

Billy Williams is accused of sending the e-mails through a server in Dallas throughout 2004. The e-mails included offerings for mortgage refinancing, prescription drugs, anti-spy ware software and other products, Texas prosecutors said.

Williams doesn't actually sell the products, instead he receives a commission for referring customers through a marketing firm, officials said.

Williams is accused of using tactics to hide his identity and to trick users to open the e-mails, prosecutors said.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is using state and federal anti-spam laws to prosecute Williams. Williams could face penalties of up to $10 per e-mail or $25,000 for each day under Texas laws.