LARRY O’DELL, Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld a contempt of court citation against an email service provider used by National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden.

A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled unanimously against Dallas-based Lavabit Inc. and its owner, Ladar Levinson.

Appeals court Judge Steve Agee wrote that Levinson was sanctioned for refusing to help federal authorities track the email of a target of a criminal investigation. The opinion did not name the target.

Levinson also did not mention Snowden or any particular investigation when he closed his company last August. He said he would rather go out of business than “become complicit in crimes against the American people.” Snowden had used an encrypted email account from Lavabit.