U.S. Busts - June 2005 - GrayZone, Inc.

RIAA Anti-Piracy Seizure Information

Arkansas

June 21, 2005 – A defendant of Little Rock entered into a plea bargain agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office. Subsequently, he appeared before the U. S. District Court in Little Rock and plead guilty to criminal copyright infringement and conspiracy. A sentencing date has been set for September 15, 2005. As part of the plea bargain agreement, the defendant has agreed to pay $26,469 in restitution to the RIAA and is expected to be sentenced to 10 to 16 months in federal prison.

June 7, 2005 – Information was received that a Pine Bluff man plead guilty and was sentenced to 120 hours of community service, a $1,000 fine, one year probation and $1,000 in restitution to the RIAA. The defendant was arrested in connection with a seizure at M&K Fashions in September of 2003. Seized at the time of his arrest were a total of 1,198 counterfeit CD-Rs.

California

June 29, 2005 – A Palmdale man was convicted in Los Angeles County on felony charges stemming from a March 2005 arrest during a search warrant executed by the Los Angeles Police Department. The raid resulted in the seizure of 14 CD-R Burners and 2,000 counterfeit CD-Rs. At the time of his arrest, the defendant was on felony probation for a prior music piracy conviction. The new conviction resulted in a state prison sentence of four years.

June 27, 2005 – A Wilmington defendant was sentenced to two years in state prison after pleading guilty to felony charges in a Los Angeles County courtroom. The offender was arrested by Los Angeles Police Department Harbor Station officers in May of 2005 and prosecuted based on the seizure of 138 counterfeit CDs and 438 counterfeit movie DVDs.

June 17, 2005 – Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lennox station deputies seized 1,064 counterfeit CD-Rs from a mother and daughter tandem engaged in illegal street vending. Both were arrested and taken into custody on felony charges.

June 14, 2005 – A woman was arrested on felony charges during a search warrant executed at Digital Color Copy in downtown Los Angeles. Los Angeles Police Department officers seized 1,222 piratical CD inserts and 400 music DVD inserts inside this location suspected of printing counterfeit inserts for music pirates operating in the city.

June 14, 2005 – The Los Angeles Police Department executed search warrants at residential burner labs in Los Angeles and arrested the primary suspects at each location. Officers seized 60 CD-R burners, three printers, 15,319 counterfeit movie DVDs and 4,325 CD-Rs inside one residence, and another 21 CD-R burners at the second residence. In addition to pirated movies and music, more than 33,000 pirate insert cards were also seized. Both suspects were arrested on felony charges.

June 13, 2005 – A Los Angeles defendant plead guilty to misdemeanor charges following his arrest by the Los Angeles Police Department in November 2004, in connection with the seizure of 677 CD-Rs. The defendant was sentenced to serve nine days in county jail and ordered to pay $6,770 in restitution to the RIAA.

June 12, 2005 – The RIAA assisted the Riverside County Sheriff’s Task Force in a sweep of unlicensed fiesta flea markets operating in rural areas of Riverside County. One individual was arrested on felony charges following the seizure of 1,434 CD-Rs and 364 movie DVDs.

June 10, 2005 – A Compton man was convicted in Los Angeles County following his arrest by Huntington Park Police and the seizure of 328 counterfeit CD-Rs in May of 2005. The defendant was placed on probation for three years and ordered to serve 180 days in county jail.

June 7, 2005 – The RIAA assisted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department NORSAT Unit in executing search warrants at Discoteca Stereo Club in Compton and the business owner’s Long Beach residence. Deputies seized a total of 25,016 pressed CDs from the Compton store and Long Beach residence. The owner was arrested on felony charges.

June 7, 2005 – A motorist stopped by California Highway Patrol Officers in Fresno was arrested and taken into custody on felony charges following the discovery of 3,545 pirated CDs in his vehicle.

June 4, 2005 – Oakland Police seized 832 pirated CDs and 115 movie DVDs from a street vendor who was arrested and pled guilty to felony charges. The defendant was sentenced to 180 days in county jail as a condition of felony probation.

June 2, 2005 – The Montebello Police Department Special Investigations Unit, assisted by RIAA investigators, raided a residential manufacturing operation and seized 17 CD-R burners, three printers, 2,000 counterfeit movie DVDs and 600 counterfeit CD-Rs in addition to raw materials. One individual was arrested on felony charges.

June 1, 2005 – The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigations Section seized 56 CD-R burners and two commercial copiers during a search warrant executed at a residential burner lab in Los Angeles. An additional 1,593 movie DVD-Rs and 156 CD-Rs and raw materials were also seized. Following the seizure, one suspect was arrested on felony charges. Later that same day, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department executed another search warrant at a residential burner lab in Baldwin Park, seizing 41 CD-R burners, four commercial copiers, 1,756 movie DVDs and 4,540 CD-Rs. The primary suspect was arrested at the location on felony charges.

June 1, 2005 – A Los Angeles man pleaded guilty to music and movie piracy charges in Los Angeles County and was sentenced to serve one year in county jail and three years probation. The defendant was in possession of 72 counterfeit CD-Rs and 135 counterfeit movie DVDs when he was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department Foothill Vice Officers in May 2005.

June 2005 – During the month of June, the Los Angeles Police Department Vice Officers arrested 13 street vendors and seized 3,861 counterfeit CDs / CD-Rs and 2,945 counterfeit movie DVDs. These arrests occurred throughout the city in areas patrolled by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Central Vice, Mission Vice, Hollenbeck Vice and Foothill Vice. RIAA investigators supplemented these enforcement actions by conducting voluntary surrender actions and removing an additional 4,458 counterfeit and pirate CDs / CD-Rs offered for sale by street vendors in downtown L.A.May 14, 2005 – A total of 24,285 counterfeit and piratical CD-Rs and 12,371 counterfeit movie DVDs were seized by the Los Angeles Police Department Foothill Vice Squad from a single distributor who was placed under felony arrest.

Colorado

June 30, 2005 – A Motion to Vacate Restitution Order in a Colorado case was denied by the state court. The defendant, a Commerce City, CA woman was convicted in December of 2004, sentenced to probation and ordered to pay $28,000 in restitution to the RIAA.

Connecticut

June 2005 – During the month of June, RIAA investigators assisted the New Haven Police Department in enforcement actions at retail locations and a flea market resulting in three arrests and the seizure of 861 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs, 492 counterfeit movie DVDs, one computer tower with two CD-R Burners, one scanner and various raw materials.

Georgia

June 23, 2005 – Officers from the East Point Police Department, assisted by RIAA investigators, executed criminal search warrants at the T-Shirt Shop in East Point. Seized during the search were 27,764 counterfeit CD-Rs. Two people were arrested and charged with violation of the GA True Name and Address Statute. This warrant was part of an ongoing joint effort by law enforcement and RIAA investigators to identify the source of manufacture and distribution in the greater Atlanta area.

June 20, 2005 – The Atlanta Police Department, while responding to a burglary call, discovered a distribution location in the downtown area of Atlanta. Once the scene was secured, RIAA investigators assisting entered the premises and identified 8,736 counterfeit and piratical CD-Rs and 2,864 unauthorized DVD-R movies. The product was taken to the Atlanta Police Department Property Section. No suspects were present upon the arrival of officers at the scene. This location is still under investigation.

June 18, 2005 – While conducting a vehicle search following a traffic stop, officers from the Athens Police Department discovered 3,286 counterfeit CD-Rs in the trunk of the vehicle. Based upon training supplied by RIAA investigators, the officers took the suspect into custody for violation of the GA State True Name and Address sections of the penal code.

June 17, 2005 – Officers from the College Park Police Department, assisted by RIAA investigators, conducted a sweep of the 285 Flea Market as part of an ongoing joint effort to identify the source of manufacture and distribution in the greater Atlanta area. Seized during the criminal actions were 43,307 counterfeit and piratical CD-Rs, 10,085 counterfeit DVD-R movies, and approximately $250,000 in counterfeit apparel. A total of eight people were taken into custody on various state violations.

June 17, 2005 – RIAA investigators located an individual selling unauthorized CD-Rs during the Atlanta Midtown Music Festival. Atlanta Police Department officers were contacted and responded to the scene. As the officers approached, the vendor fled the scene, leaving behind 1,783 counterfeit and piratical CD-Rs. The product was taken into custody by the Officers while efforts are being made to locate the vendor.

June 12, 2005 – While responding to a silent alarm call, Atlanta police officers arrived at a business located in the downtown area. Upon their arrival, two suspects fled the scene and were later taken into custody following a pursuit. Once inside, officers confiscated 33,569 counterfeit and piratical CD-Rs and 11,594 counterfeit movie DVD-Rs. A third suspect on the premises was also taken into custody. RIAA investigators were contacted and responded to assist and attribute the seizure action to the direct results of ongoing training efforts with the uniform divisions of the Atlanta Police Department.

Illinois

June 12, 2005 – RIAA investigators conducted several voluntary surrenders at Montana Charlie’s Flea Market in Bollingbrook. A total of 2,786 counterfeit and piratical CD-Rs were surrendered from five vendors.

June 11, 2005 – RIAA Investigators conducted two voluntary surrender agreements at the Swap O Rama Flea Market in Chicago. A total of 4,510 counterfeit and piratical CD-Rs were surrendered from the vendors. One vendor also surrendered 569 counterfeit movie DVDs.

June 2, 2005 – RIAA investigators conducted a voluntary surrender at the Swap O Rama Flea Market and recovered 1,525 counterfeit CD-Rs. The vendor was educated on music piracy and stated he would not buy or sell counterfeit or piratical CD-Rs in the future.

June 2, 2005 – Following a two-month investigation by the RIAA that included surveillance and undercover buys, Chicago Police obtained a search warrant for a retail store on Chicago’s Southside. Approximately 5,271 counterfeit and piratical CD-Rs along with 3,344 counterfeit movie DVDs were recovered and two suspects were arrested and charged with felonies. The storefront acted as a distribution point for numerous street vendors targeting mass transit trains, bus terminals and commuter stations.

Kentucky

June 18, 2005 – The Georgetown Police Department seized 1,168 counterfeit CD-Rs from a vendor at a local flea market. Officers responded after receiving information from an RIAA investigative consultant that the illegal distribution of sound recordings was taking place at the venue. The defendant was charged with one felony count of Unauthorized Reproduction and Distribution of a Recorded Article.

Maryland

June 2005 – During the month of June, RIAA Investigators assisted Officers with the Prince George’s and Baltimore City Police Departments in enforcement actions that yielded six arrests with an additional four suspects who shall be summoned at a later date. A total of 2,947 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs and 3,381 counterfeit movie DVDs were seized.

Massachusetts

June 8, 2005 – Officers with the Fitchburg Police Department and RIAA investigators conducted a plain view seizure at a retail store on John Fitch Highway resulting in one arrest, the seizure of 101 counterfeit CD-Rs, 2,403 piratical CD-Rs, and 63 counterfeit music DVD-Rs.

Michigan

June 21, 2005 – One suspect was arrested and his product seized following a traffic stop by the Michigan State Police after they noticed CDs in the back seat of his vehicle. RIAA investigators responded to a request to verify the product was illegal and confirmed that all 1,049 CD-Rs were counterfeit or piratical. Also seized from the defendant were 630 counterfeit movie DVDs.

June 9, 2005 – A Michigan man was convicted and sentenced to 18 months probation and ordered to pay $1,800 restitution to the RIAA. Detroit police officers arrested the defendant in April of 2005 after they observed him selling illegal CDs and DVDs. A total of 295 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs and 113 counterfeit movie DVDs were seized at the time of his arrest.

New Mexico

June 18, 2005– Voluntary Surrender Agreements were conducted at the New Mexico State Fair Flea Market in Albuquerque. The four vendors selling the contraband surrendered a total of 1,988 counterfeit discs to RIAA investigators.

New York

June 30, 2005 – The New York Police Department’s 40th Precinct conducted enforcement actions at a truck stop in the Bronx resulting in the arrest of three distributors and 2,555 counterfeit CD-Rs, 9,500 movie DVD-Rs and various pocketbooks and hats.

June 29, 2005 – The New York Police Department’s 6th precinct conducted enforcement actions at a retailer on West 14th Street resulting in two arrests and the seizure of 2,386 piratical CD-Rs.

June 24, 2005 – The Suffolk County Police Department’s 3rd Precinct Crime Section, assisted by the RIAA, conducted enforcement action on Pine Air Drive in Bay Shore. As a result, one suspect was arrested and 227 piratical CD-Rs and 689 counterfeit movie DVDs were seized. After questioning, it was determined that the defendant was manufacturing at his residence where a consent search revealed eight CD-R burners that were also seized.

June 21, 2005 – The New York Police Department’s 48th Precinct, assisted by the RIAA, executed a search warrant at a retailer located in the Bronx. This police action resulted in the arrest of one suspect who was charged with felony trademark offenses, the seizure of 925 pirated and counterfeit CD-Rs, and 1,278 counterfeit movie DVDs. A total of nine CDs burners and nine DVD burners were also seized.

June 11, 2005 – Members of the NYPD’s MTS Precinct were conducting peddler enforcement in the vicinity of 29 St & Broadway in New York City. While at the location, officers proceeded to arrest two individuals involved in a robbery at a location operating as an unauthorized point of distribution. Seized at the location were 9,600 counterfeit CD-Rs.

June 8, 2005 – The 9th Precinct of the New York Police Department, assisted by the RIAA executed a Search Warrant at “Kim’s Video Store” in New York City. This police action resulted in the arrests of six individuals, the seizure of 500 piratical CD-Rs and 27 counterfeit music DVDs. Also seized were nine DVDs burners and one scanner.

June 2, 2005 – As part of an ongoing undercover operation with the New York Police Department involving manufacturing locations, RIAA investigators assisted the Bronx District Attorneys Squad in the execution of a search warrant on Andrews Avenue in the Bronx. This warrant resulted in the arrest of two individuals, the seizure of 30 (16X) CD-R Burners, 3,600 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs, 4,600 counterfeit movie DVDs, boxes of various raw materials and two minivans used to transport the contraband.

North Carolina

June 13, 2005 – The North Charleston Police Department arrested a street vendor in connection with peddling unauthorized recordings. Officers charged the suspect with the distribution of counterfeit CD-Rs and illegal DVDs. An estimated 2,000 counterfeit CD-Rs along with 243 counterfeit DVDs were seized and stored as evidence in the case.

Oklahoma

June 25, 2005 – The RIAA conducted sweeps of street vendors in Oklahoma City. A total of five Voluntary Surrender Agreements were conducted resulting in the confiscation of 2,290 counterfeit discs.

Oregon

June 25, 2005 – RIAA investigators assisted the Gresham Police Department in enforcement actions against four vendors at the Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet in Gresham. Police officers seized 11,653 CD-Rs and arrested all 4 vendors on felony charges.

June 24, 2005 – RIAA investigators assisted the Woodburn Police in enforcement actions at the Woodburn Community Flea Market. Police officers arrested and charged two suspects with felony offenses and seized 12,025 counterfeit CD-Rs, one CD-R burner and 881 counterfeit music cassettes.

June 22, 2005 – RIAA investigators assisted the Woodburn Police Department in an enforcement action at a retail store resulting in the seizure of 81 counterfeit CD-Rs and manufacturing equipment. A follow-up search at a residence uncovered an additional 898 counterfeit CD-Rs. One suspect was arrested on felony charges.

Pennsylvania

June 2005 – During the month of June, officers with the Philadelphia Police Department assisted by RIAA investigators, seized 964 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs and 1,064 counterfeit movie DVDs from two vendors and three distributors who were arrested and charged accordingly.

Rhode Island

June 17, 2005 – The Cranston Rhode Island Police Department, assisted by the RIAA executed two search warrants at retail locations on Park Avenue and Oaklawn Avenue resulting in two arrests and the seizure of 3,390 piratical CD-Rs and 19 counterfeit music DVDs.

Tennessee

June 22, 2005 – Notice was received that a Memphis man was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison and upon release from confinement will be placed on supervised release for two years. The defendant was convicted by a jury in the Western District of Memphis in November of 2004 for Aiding and Abetting, Criminal Copyright Infringement, and Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods and Services.

June 21, 2005 – RIAA investigators assisted the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI in the execution of a search warrant. The subject of the investigation, Socks & Novelties, located in Chattanooga was under investigation concerning the manufacturing and distribution of unauthorized sound recordings. Upon entering the business, 23 CD-R Burners were located along with 8,775 counterfeit and piratical CD-Rs. Also seized by authorities were 1,174 counterfeit DVDs, approximately $3,000 in cash and computer equipment on the scene.

Texas

June 4, 2005 – The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by RIAA Investigators, seized 1,512 piratical CDs & CD-Rs from three vendors. Felony charges will be filed against two of the vendors. On this same day, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office also assisted by the RIAA seized 1,430 piratical sound recordings from a vendor at the Mission Open Air Flea Market in San Antonio. One suspect will be charged with a felony violation of Texas’ Labeling statute.

Dominican Republic

June 10, 2005 – Adoprofono, with assistance from the RIAA, seized a total of 18,871 counterfeit and piratical CD-Rs, 675 DVDs, 400 blank CD-Rs, 44 CD-R burners, 12 towers, 16 CPUs, 29 computer cables, 10 monitors, 10 keyboards, two adapters, five printers, one voltage regulator, one hard drive, two scanners, five electrical extensions, four computers, four speaker sets, one VHS player, 25,000 pirate and counterfeit insert cards representing various artists, and 20,000 photographs with artwork for various music artists from manufacturers and distributors in Santo Domingo. Four suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure.

June 4, 2005 – Adoprofono, with assistance from RIAA investigators, seized 4,138 piratical and counterfeit CD-Rs in Santo Domingo.