RIAA Anti-Piracy Seizure Information
U.S. Busts - October 2006
Louisiana |Maryland | Michigan | New York | Pennsylvania |Texas
California
September 6, 2006 - RIAA investigators from the California office received a tip from the FBI in Denver regarding a parolee who was apparently not only just burning and selling CDs but running a manufacturing and distribution center out of his residence. This suspect had previously been arrested and was out on probation for similar charges. On September 6, 2006, the search was conducted at his residence to check if he was violating parole. While gathering evidence at the residence, officers recovered 2,100 CD masters from a makeshift lab complete with CD and DVD replicators connected to a computer. In the master bedroom was a replicating tower with a master and seven DVD or CD slave bays. Officers also recovered several hundred inserts for the pirated product. Upon searching his vehicle RIAA investigators found 250 pirated DVD movies and 343 CDs in jewel cases.
August 31, 2006 - Search warrants were served at three residences in Los Angeles county, after surveillance and undercover investigations by the LA County Sheriff's Department Special Projects Team turned up evidence of piracy. The three locations were operating a residential burner lab and a distribution 'pick house.' After reviewing the quantity of product seized at each location the numbers suggest that after replication at one house the music was then going on to one of the other houses for distribution while the movies being replicated where going to the third residence for distribution. At the pick house the suspects had product spread on the floor of a rear garage in a manner where product was to be distributed to smaller vendors and wholesalers. By the end of the three home raid, three suspect were arrested, and 126 Burners, 7,543 CDRs and 10,917 DVDRs were seized along with raw material and equipment.
August 2006 - Seven arrests were made at a flea market in Stockton, CA after Stockton PD and RIAA investigators observed fourteen vendor spaces offering music CDs for sale on Saturday August 14th. After making undercover music purchases at all spaces it was confirmed that nine of the fourteen were selling counterfeit and pirate music. Officers then raided the infringing locations and seized 7,132 CDs and 248 movie DVDs. Seven suspects were arrested on music piracy charges.
July 21, 2006 - LAPD Anti-Piracy Unit with assistance from RIAA Investigators arrested the suspect after observing him sell pirated merchandise on Wall Street. After reviewing the evidence and identifying it as in fact pirated, the investigators and LAPD followed up with a search warrant to the suspect's house. At the residence over 3,023 CDRs, 12,955 DVDs and 83 Burners were seized leading to the suspect being charged with failure to disclose origin of recording or audiovisual work.
July 21, 2006 - A known pirate was picked up in a parking lot on Euclid Avenue in San Diego on July 21st after Officer Harper of the San Diego PD observed the suspect pass a spindle containing discs to another unknown male. The suspect was previously arrested in January of 2006 for piracy by Officer Harper and was out on bail on felony probation. The suspect was contacted and detained for investigation during which Officer Ray obtained written permission from him to search his house. During the search of the residence officers on the scene seized 339 DVDs, 300 CDs, 26 CD Masters, 13 DVD wrappers displaying counterfeit trademarks, 84 blank DVDR discs, 11 Blank CDR discs and 1 Burner. In addition to the piratical products seized, 32 ounces of Marijuana were also confiscated with a street value of approximately $600 dollars and a revolver. This incident also involved a suspect from the indoor swap meet investigation(below).
July 2006 - An indoor swap meet has played host for a hot bed of criminal activity on Euclid Street in San Diego. For over a year, the sales of contraband at the swap meet included guns, drugs, counterfeit merchandise and pirated music and movies. At the request of the MPAA and RIAA, the San Diego Police Department launched an aggressive enforcement plan in order to combat the ongoing criminal presence and help stop the piracy problem. Shortly after starting the investigation the SDPD realized that piracy investigations and arrests were leading to criminal investigations with the piracy suspects involved in narcotics, weapons, assaults and other serious crimes. During the month of November, 2005 a search warrant was served at the indoor swap meet, pirated/counterfeit property was seized and several suspects were arrested. An injunction was also obtained against the property owner's deeming the indoor swap meet as a nuisance property. The owners of the property were given steps to take to protect the public safety of the citizens shopping at the swap meet and to deter the criminal activities inside the building and out. From November 2005 until June 2006, criminal activity continued and Officer Harper of the San Diego PD routinely made arrests. Suspects involved in the manufacturing, distribution and sales of pirated discs stood in the public parking lot openly committing these violations. In a twist to the case it was soon realized that some of the suspects in the investigation were gang members, known associates or associates of gangs, predominately various clicks of the Bloods and even one Crip member. It was also discovered that many of the suspects from different gangs were working together in a common cause to make, distribute and sell pirated discs. As the investigation neared to a close in June, San Diego PD decided to utilize informants and undercover officers to make purchases of pirated items, identify suspects and identify locations to be searched. Suspects were not going to be arrested until enough evidence had been gathered. During the month of July attentions were turned to the two principal suspects in the investigation. While investigating the first of the two suspects it was found that he was on probation so after a search of his residence a gun, marijuana, pirated materials and replicating activities were recovered. The other main suspect was a member of the Crip's gang and was currently on probation when he was arrested and found with replicating equipment, marijuana and pirated CDs and DVDs. In the end nine suspects were arrested, 619 CDRs, 383 DVDs and replicating equipment was seized as well as marijuana, guns, and 9 cars were impounded. Additional product was also seized during the course of the twelve month investigation.
Florida
August 11, 2006 - Miami police seized thousands of illegal movies and CDs from an apartment in Little Havana. The raid on the apartment took place after one of the men allegedly sold an undercover police officer three bootleg DVDs for $10. Officers seized between 3,000 and 4,000 illegal DVDs and CDs, which they laid out for reporters on the lawn outside the apartment. Titles included movies still in theaters, such as Miami Vice and Superman Returns. One of the men also had a loaded pistol, which he told police he carried for protection from other bootleggers.
Georgia
September 19, 2006 - RIAA investigators with the aid of the ATF and the Atlanta PD executed a search warrant on a location that was manufacturing, distributing and selling counterfeit CDRs in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta PD arrested and charged three suspects for violating Georgia Statues and they also seized 30 burners, 2,936 counterfeit CDRs and 6, 386 counterfeit DVDRs.
September 12, 2006 - In Fulton County, Georgia, the Hapeville Police Department notified the RIAA that a fashion retailer had been broken into and upon entering the scene, officers observed what they believed to be a large quantity of suspected piratical compact discs and movies. There was also evidence that manufacturing for those discs were taking place in the store, however it appeared that the burners had been stolen during the burglary. Seized from the store were 5,360 piratical CDRs and 3,088 DVDs, the two co-owners also have been arrested.
August 2, 2006 - Officers from the Atlanta PD obtained a search warrant for an automotive repair shop that was doubling as a manufacturing and distribution shop for illicit music and movies with the help of the RIAA and MPAA investigators. The location was also previously brought to the attention of the Atlanta PD for suspected drug activity in the past. After a brief barricade situation the Atlanta PD and the ATF gained access to the shop. One suspect was found hiding within the walls with $300 dollars in cash, two counterfeit $50 dollar bills and with a handgun within reach. A half pound of marijuana was also seized along with 58 high speed burners, 11,255 counterfeit CDs, 5060 counterfeit DVDs. In addition to the sound violations one suspect will also be charged with Federal Handgun violations. Both suspects were arrested and brought to the Fulton County Jail.
July 2006 - During a routine traffic stop off of highway 72 in Georgia, Corporal Spitzer of the Spalding County Sheriff's Department recognized several copies of DVDs for movies that are currently still in theatres sitting on the floor of the side passenger seat. When questioning the passengers the driver told Cpl. Spitzer that he 'swore he did not know what any of the stuff in his car was, he was just doing a favor for a buddy by dropping off the items at his house'. The officer was not buying into the suspect's story and at that moment he noticed a strange humming noise coming from the rear of the suspect's vehicle. Upon opening up the back doors, eight discs promptly popped out of a burner tower signaling that the burning was complete. After further inspection of the vehicle the officer came to the realization that the suspects were using a laptop set up on the front dashboard to program exactly which CDRs and DVDRs to burn. Essentially, the suspects were creating product on the road while on route to sell them on the street. They even had a portable DVD player in the car for viewing the freshly made DVDs to ensure they worked properly. By the end of the traffic stop, Corporal Spitzer seized the suspect's portable DVD player, a power inverter, 8 burners, 550 blank CDRs, 94 counterfeit CDRs, 133 pirated CDRs and 724 DVDRs.
Illinois
August 2006 - Nine individuals were arrested during a raid at a flea market in Bolingbrook, IL. The flea market had been the subject of an ongoing investigation over the last year. Fourteen vendor booths were discovered to have illegal copies of music and movies with over 23,269 counterfeit/pirate Latin CDRs and 1,455 counterfeit movie DVDRs.
Kentucky
September 18, 2006 - A homicide investigation led Louisville Metro Detectives to find a retail store that was manufacturing counterfeit recordings. A subject had been shot and killed on Kentucky Street in Louisville, Kentucky. Later on that evening (in the early hours of the morning) two other men were shot on Clay Street in front of a fashion retail store. Police detectives believe that the second shooting was in retaliation from friends of the first victim. During the investigation into the homicide and subsequent shootings detectives executed search warrants to retrieve video tapes from security cameras in the stores surrounding the shootings to look for possible leads. When examining the fashion retail store's tapes they not only discovered that the tapes possessed the best view of the crime but they also came across several items that appeared to be counterfeit. After a brief visual scan of the store and realizing that there were a lot more then just a few counterfeit recordings, detectives obtained a second search warrant and seized all of the counterfeit items. From the inventory taken it appears the store owner at the very least was using his store as a manufacturing center for counterfeit recordings. Seized during the execution of the warrant were; 2,541 counterfeit music CDs, 1,041 counterfeit movie DVDs, a Savin CLP Copier Printer, computer tower with 21 separate burners, a second computer tower with 9 burners, cannon scanner, Casio disc title printer, 2,300 blank CD inserts, shrink wrap machine, stacks of printed music CDs, music video DVDs, Movie DVD inserts and 500 empty jewel cases. Counterfeit clothing was also seized.
Louisiana
August 22, 2006 - After being arrested, a former narcotics trafficker told New Orleans Police that he is now only involved in the copying and selling of movies and music. This is another example of a continuing trend of 'switch criminals' making a living on the lucrative counterfeit and piracy market. The arrest was made after two search warrants were executed by the Louisiana department of Justice and officers from the New Orleans PD. The search warrants were based on an ongoing narcotics investigation on the location, however upon walking into the residence narcotics agents noticed a large reproduction lab with the computer equipment up and running and with the burners still connected. Agents then seized 4,913 CDRs, 3,896 DVDs and all equipment.
Maryland
August 20, 2006 - $20,000 in crack cocaine, 22 grams of marijuana and 2 semi-automatic handguns were seized after police realized that a street vendor was selling a lot more the just pirated CDs in the back of his Cadillac. RIAA investigators received information about subjects selling counterfeit items in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Oxon Hill, MD. RIAA investigators responded to the area and set up surveillance and were soon observing several subjects gathering around a green Cadillac, the suspects would enter the trunk of the Cadillac to obtain discs which were then sold to vehicles passing by. RIAA investigators then contacted members of the Violent Crimes Task Force who were working in the area to have them respond to the scene. As the officers approached unnoticed, the trunk of the car remained open allowing the counterfeit items to be observed in plain view. The officers then stopped the three subjects and began to interview them. Over the course of the interview one of the suspects stated that he had 'weed' on him and he was advised to leave the vehicle. Upon leaving the vehicle the suspect grabbed his rear pants pocket and looked like he was ready to bolt. Two of the officers then grabbed the subject and a struggle ensued, after the suspect was handcuffed and arrested, officers found a semi-automatic handgun in his back pocket. The other two subjects were placed under arrest as well. A search of the vehicle revealed 10.5 grams of crack cocaine and another handgun, as well as 228 counterfeit CD's and 206 counterfeit DVDs.
Michigan
September 14, 2006 - The Muskegon Police Department observed what appeared to be counterfeit CDs/DVDs and manufacturing equipment inside a store after responding to a breaking and entering call. Officers seized 3,954 counterfeit CDRs, 7 counterfeit music DVDRs, 26 MPAA DVDRs, 5 CD/DVD burners, a laptop and a stolen firearm. After bringing back the counterfeit product to the station, RIAA and MPAA investigators verified the illegality of the CDs/DVDs.
August 2006 - After receiving a tip that illegal CDs and marijuana were being sold at a retail store in Detroit, RIAA investigators informed the Detroit PD of the information and they also filled the PD in on the previous raid three years ago for the sale of illegal CDRs. The Detroit PD Narcotics Division promptly began an eight month investigation which included several undercover buys of CDRs and DVDRs. After securing a search warrant the Detroit PD Narcotics Division, RIAA and MPAA investigators entered the retail store and upon arriving they noticed a moderate sized lab for the manufacture and distribution of CDRs and DVDRs and also video pornography. Confiscated from the location were 1,431 counterfeit/pirate CDRs, 2,092 counterfeit movie DVDRs, 45 CD/DVD burners, 5,000 empty jewel cases, 3,000 blank CDRs/ DVDRs, 4 printers, and 4,000+ pornography movies. Police also confiscated 1-1/2 pounds of Marijuana, 45 digital drug scales, 3 firearms and $2800 in cash. The storeowner was arrested and charged with felonies. Mississippi September 19,2006 - RIAA investigators assisted the Canton Police Department with an ongoing investigation into the piracy activities at a residence on Franklin Street in Canton, Mississippi. After executing the search warrant officers seized 1 tower containing ten burners and 3 towers containing four burners for a total of 22 burners as well as 8,671 counterfeit DVDs and 9,125 counterfeit CDs. One suspect was arrested and is now in the Madison County Jail.
New York
September 15, 2006 - One suspect was arrested and six towers were seized with forty burners in total after the Syracuse Police department conducted an enforcement action on James Street. An additional 1,782 CDRs, 30 MPAA DVDRs and various raw material were also seized.
September 2006 - The RIAA New York Field Office and the NYPD Trademark Unit pulled the plug on a burner lab that was running from investigators for over six months. The suspects involved in this case were smarter then your average piracy criminal. Confidential informants told investigators that the suspects have been involved in the counterfeit music and movie business for years and have succeeded in staying out of the cops horizon while always trying to stay one step ahead. Through years of work the suspects had perfected the transportation of the counterfeit product from the burner lab to the distributor to the streets while keeping the cops at bay. By having one 'employee' drop off the fully loaded van at the suspects residence (from the current burner location) and then leaving via the subway they avoided being followed or having vehicle tags traced. After the van was dropped off the suspects would then leave their residence and enter the van with their own set of keys. Proceeding directly to the Major Deacon expressway where they would often drive twenty sometimes thirty miles per hour under the speed limit to avoid being followed. The van drivers knew that any car following for too long was likely to be a cop or an investigator and they could then change their destination plans accordingly. After a while the suspects did slip up. Investigators were able to make several buys as well as photograph the suspects unloading the van at the distribution point, they also located the burner lab's current address. However just as investigators were closing in and synching up with the NYPD Trademark Unit to go in with the search warrant the burner lab changed it's location. The suspects had gotten suspicious and it was time for them to move once again to stay ahead of what they would term the '5-0'. After a few more weeks of surveillance work the RIAA Investigators started closing in once again and once again the suspects slipped away right before the search warrant was executed. This September, after several more undercover buys and observations the burner lab finally was shut down. Along with the take down came the seizure of 209 burners on 24 individual towers, 7,900 CDRS and 7,100 MPAA DVDRs. One car was seized and the suspect was arrested. At the distribution center later on that day 28,200 CDRS and 8,604 MPAA DVDRs were seized and the same suspect was charged for those related crimes.
August 18, 2006 - The White Plains PD, Westchester County PD, US Secret Service along with the RIAA and Target Inc. investigators executed a search warrant at a music store on Mamaroneck Ave in White Plains, NY. This warrant resulted in 2 arrests and the seizure of 4 Burners, 300 CDRs, 150 MPAA/DVDRs, raw material and a shrink wrap machine. Also recovered was over $100,000 worth of stolen property and $236,000 in U.S. currency.
August 2006 - The RIAA NY office investigators assisted the NYPD's 67th PCT with a court issued search warrant on Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn, NY. The search warrant was obtained after informants made several buys at the location and the product was verified as counterfeit/pirate. In the process of executing the search warrant 5 arrests were made and 32,700 CDRs and 11,608 MPAA DVDRs were seized. An additional 35 Burners and raw material were seized as well.
July 2006 - While executing a search warrant at a burner lab on Broadway in New York City the NYPD and the RIAA discovered $146,000 in US currency. The burner lab was discovered through several undercover purchases made days before the bust. The burner lab was fronting as a variety retail store but it really was a full blown piracy lab. Seized in the search were: 1 Tower totaling 2 Burners, 1 Shrink Wrap Machine, 1 Heat Gun, 1 Color Printer, 1 Scanner, 1 Box Raw Materials containing Blanks and Jewels, 420 Pirate CDRs, 100 Latin Molded Pirate CDs, 144 Latin Pirate Music DVDRs and $146,000 cash. Two suspects were also arrested.
Pennsylvania
August 16, 2006 - The Philadelphia PD responded to a radio call that a robbery was occurring at a Philadelphia home and a hostage was in the basement. When officers arrived at the home they noticed that the front door was locked and while standing at the front of the home, two individuals arrived and voluntarily opened the door with their keys and invited the officers inside to make sure that everything was okay. While inside the basement, officers observed in plain view an illegal manufacturing location. Both individuals were taken into custody and charged with felonies. Over 5,888 counterfeit/pirate CDRs, 36 counterfeit music DVDRs and 10,200 counterfeit movie DVDRs were seized. No hostage was found in the basement of the home.
August 2006 - During a routine traffic stop two suspects were arrested after Philadelphia PD found that the driver did not have a valid driver's license. After observing in plain view 396 counterfeit/pirate CDRs and 1,258 counterfeit movie DVDRs inside the vehicle police did a more thorough search of the car. Police then also found drugs and $4,395 in cash.
Texas
September 14, 2006 - A vendor was arrested after the Dallas PD observed the suspect selling counterfeit CDRs and DVDs in front of a convenience store on Ledbetter Drive in Dallas, Texas. A total of 5,850 CDRs, 1,480 DVDs, and two towers with 24 burners combined were seized.
July 15, 2006 - RIAA investigators teamed with the Dallas PD arrested a street vendor in the parking lot of a local restaurant with possession of a handgun and they also seized 169 CDRs in the Urban genre and 281 movie DVDRs. This particular vendor had previously voluntarily surrendered pirated product after being served a voluntarily surrender letter back in November of 2005. That day's seizure began with RIAA Investigators witnessing the vendor selling illegal product to several different people on the street. After witnessing those events RIAA investigators placed a call to the Dallas PD requesting that officers be sent to the location. Officer Tyler and Officer Malon arrived and witnessed Investigator Culp make an undercover purchase of 4 DVDs, "Akeelah & The Bee," "M-3," "Omen," "The Fast & The Furious," for $20. Following the undercover purchase, Dallas PD officers arrested the suspect. Charges are pending for violation of the Texas actual name and address statute.