I know nothing about, and nor am I commenting on, the legal implications of buying the list or sending the e-mails.
I'm with the earlier posts pointing out that whoever would sell these to you is not entirely reliable. Why on earth would they sell you this "valuable e-mail list" for $250, if they had so much income from it to make selling the business viable in the first place? While I understand the seller already sold the business (and still owns the e-mail list), $250 sounds....low, unless you aren't the only person they sold the list to. Presumably, someone willing to turn on a buyer for another $250 would be willing to sell the list to someone else as well.
I'm with the earlier posts pointing out that whoever would sell these to you is not entirely reliable. Why on earth would they sell you this "valuable e-mail list" for $250, if they had so much income from it to make selling the business viable in the first place? While I understand the seller already sold the business (and still owns the e-mail list), $250 sounds....low, unless you aren't the only person they sold the list to. Presumably, someone willing to turn on a buyer for another $250 would be willing to sell the list to someone else as well.