U.S. Busts – December 2004

RIAA Anti-Piracy Seizure Information

California | Connecticut | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Maryland | Michigan | New Jersey | New York | North Carolina | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Puerto Rico

California

On December 2, 2004, Los Angeles Police Department OCVD Detectives, assisted by RIAA and MPAA, served a warrant on E. 99th Street in Los Angeles. Six suspects were arrested and charged. Seized pursuant to the warrant were 18,053 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs, 1,762 counterfeit DVDs, 10 eight-bay CD/DVD burners, two computers, three Rimage Printers, two Cannon laser color copy machines, one commercial-grade shrink wrap machine and one commercial-grade full-size paper cutter.

Connecticut

On December 17, 2004, RIAA investigators assisted the New Haven office of the FBI in the execution of a search warrant at Dollar Discount Plus in Waterbury. As a result, 724 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs and DVDs were seized.

Florida

On Monday, December 20, 2004, agents from the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, with assistance from the RIAA, seized 775 molded CDs and 121 music DVDs from a vendor at the Swap Shop in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The individual was arrested and charged with violating Florida’s True Name and Address Statute. Approximately 90% of the product seized consisted of Latin repertoire while 10% was Urban.

On December 3, 2004, following several undercover purchases made by RIAA investigators, Chicago police conducted raids at two local retail locations owned by the same individual. Police confiscated a total of 1,996 counterfeit CD-Rs. The owner and an employee were arrested and charged.

Georgia

On December 2, 2004, the Atlanta Police Department, assisted by the RIAA and MPAA, executed two search warrants at distribution locations on Campbellton Road in Atlanta. A total of 127,735 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs and DVDs were seized and seven suspects were arrested.

Illinois

On December 22, 2004, RIAA investigators conducted several Voluntary Surrenders at the Swap O Rama Flea Market in Chicago. A total of 1,325 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs were recovered.

On December 8, 2004, Elgin Police conducted a plain view seizure at a local retail store. RIAA investigators had made several undercover purchases at the store and informed police of the illegal activity. During the raid, police confiscated 1,000 counterfeit and pirated CD-Rs. The owner of the store was arrested and charged.

On December 3, 2004, following several undercover purchases made by RIAA investigators, Chicago police conducted raids at two local retail locations owned by the same individual. Police confiscated a total of 1,996 counterfeit CD-Rs. The owner and an employee were arrested and charged. Chicago Police, assisted by RIAA investigators conducted a plain view seizure at two local retail stores after investigators made an undercover purchase of pirated music in CD-R format, at each store. A total of 1,996 pirated/counterfeit music CD-Rs were confiscated from both locations. 80% of the CD-Rs confiscated were of the Latin genre. The owner, who owned both stores, and an employee were arrested and charged with felonies. Police conducted a plain view seizure at a local retail store in Elgin, Illinois. The seizure was conducted as a result of an undercover buy of Latin pirated music CD-Rs by RIAA investigators. The store owner and the manager were both arrested and charged with felonies. 1,000 Latin pirated/counterfeit CD-Rs were recovered from the raid. Information was developed that a store on Chicago Avenue, in Chicago, was selling illegal music CDs. RIAA investigators made undercover buys at two locations owned by the same individual. On December 3, 2004, officers from the Chicago Police Department and RIAA investigators raided both stores, arrested the owner and a store manager and seized approximately 2,000 piratical music CD-Rs. 80% of the music seized was Latin music genre. Over the past several months, RIAA investigators made undercover purchases of piratical CDs at a retail music store in Addison, IL. On November 16, 2004, the Addison Police Department, assisted by the RIAA, arrested the store owner and charged him with a felony. A search warrant was executed and a CD-R burner and approximately 2,200 illegal, Latin music CD-Rs were seized.

Maryland

On December 4, 2004, the Baltimore City Police Southern District, along with RIAA investigators, conducted a sweep of the Patapsco Flea Market in Baltimore and seized 1,688 counterfeit CD-Rs. One suspect was arrested and charged.

On December 8, 2004, RIAA investigators conducting surveillance in Prince George’s County observed a suspect unloading several large boxes from a work van and arranging the counterfeit contents for display. After watching the suspect make several transactions, Prince George’s County Police were notified. The suspect attempted to flee but was apprehended and identified as the same suspect that evaded police earlier in June 2004. Currently, the suspect is being held without bond and has been charged with felony and misdemeanor violations. Seized from the defendant were a total of 1,720 counterfeit CD-Rs and 616 counterfeit DVDs. On December 10, 2004, a Baltimore Police detective working plain-clothes vice enforcement in the 900 block of N. Caroline Street observed a suspect selling counterfeit CD-Rs in the parking lot of the Stop, Shop and Save. The detective made a controlled buy of two counterfeit CDs for $10.00. At that time, another suspect pulled up in a white Chevy Suburban and stated that he also had items for sale and displayed a large number of counterfeit CD-Rs in the rear of his vehicle. An arrest team was activated and both suspects were identified. Seized from both defendants were a total of 3,690 counterfeit CD-Rs. Charges are pending.

As a result of a December 2004 arrest and seizure of 126 counterfeit CD-Rs, a defendant was convicted and sentenced on two counts. He was ordered to pay $2,142.00 in restitution to the RIAA and sentenced to 18 months reporting probation. The Southern District Baltimore City Police assisted by RIAA representatives, conducted a sweep of the Patapsco Flea Market, located at 1400 W. Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230. As a result, 1,688 pirate CD-Rs CDs were seized. All were urban genre.

Michigan

On December 3, 2004, a Michigan man was convicted and sentenced to 11 months and 26 days probation and was ordered to pay $1,500.00 in restitution. Detroit Police arrested and seized 196 counterfeit CD-rs from the defendant in October 2004 after observing him sell the CDs in front of a McDonald’s restaurant.

On December 16, 2004, a Michigan woman was ordered to pay the RIAA restitution in the amount of $1,500.00 and placed on probation for 24 months as the result of a September 2004 arrest and seizure of 433 counterfeit CD-Rs by the Detroit Police.

On December 18, 2004, acting on information given by RIAA investigators, Warren police officers conducted two plain view seizures at the County Line Flea Market. Two suspects were arrested and charged and a total of 2,007 counterfeit CD-Rs, 13 (32x) CD-R burners and one computer were confiscated.

New Jersey

On December 3, 2004, personnel from the Mountainside Police Department, U.S. Customs, the U.S. Postal Service and RIAA executed a search warrant at a storage rental facility located in Union County. Approximately 1,000 bootleg and pirate DVDs and CD-Rs were seized which were allegedly shipped from Singapore. The subject of this investigation, a German citizen, was arrested on November 25 at Newark airport upon his arrival from Germany. The suspect is being held at the Morris County jail on $100,000 bail.

New York

On December 28, 2004, the RIAA assisted Members of the New York Police Department’s 110th Precinct in the execution of a Search Warrant at Hispanos Internacional Records in Queens, New York. The raid resulted in the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of 1,880 unauthorized sound recordings on molded CDs, along with $18,787 in U.S. Currency. The product seized was 100% Latin repertoire.

On December 8, 2004, the 84th Precinct of the New York Police Department completed enforcement of eight retail locations. Two suspects were arrested and 1,450 counterfeit and pirate CDs were seized. These locations will be subject to closing by nuisance abatement by NYPD Legal Division.

On December 9, 2004, the New York Police Department Organized Crime Investigations Unit executed a search warrant and seized 1,500 counterfeit CD-Rs, approximately 200,000 blank CD-Rs and DVD-Rs, 193 burners and postal money order receipts totaling over $1,500,000 for a six-month period. Four suspects were arrested.

On December 13, 2004, the 1st Precinct of the New York Police Department performed a civil seizure on Broadway in New York City resulting in the seizure of 52,000 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs. The NYPD Legal Division will target this location for nuisance abatement.

On December 16, 2004, the Organized Crimes Investigations Division of the New York Police Department executed three search warrants on West 31st in New York City resulting in the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of 47,600 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs.

On December 16, 2004, RIAA investigators assisted the New York Police Department Bronx District Attorneys Squad in the execution of a search warrant at a manufacturing location on White Plains Road. This action resulted in the arrest of one suspect and the seizure of 40 (16x) CD-R burners, 2,083 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs, 2,400 counterfeit DVDs and 120 boxes of various raw materials including 6,000 blank CD-Rs. The suspect’s van was also seized.

On December 17, 2004, the 13th Precinct of the New York Police Department executed two search warrants on Broadway in New York City resulting in the arrest of one suspect and the seizure 28,400 counterfeit CD-Rs.

On December 28, 2004, RIAA investigators assisted the New York Police Department 110th Precinct in the execution of a search warrant at Hispanos Internacional Records in New York City. Two suspects were arrested and 1,880 counterfeit CD-Rs and $18,787.00 USD were confiscated.

On Wednesday, December 01, 2004, the New York Police Department’s Bronx Task Force, assisted by the RIAA, executed a search warrant at 1996 Gleason Avenue in the Bronx. The location (an apartment) was used as a distribution point, selling pirate music CD-Rs and DVDs to street vendors in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. The police action resulted in two arrests for felony trademark offenses. This police action resulted in seizure of 19,650 Latin counterfeit/ pirated CD-Rs and 4,600 Latin music DVDs. Also seized was one box of labels, ten boxes of trays, 2 printers, 1 shrink wrapper machine with blower, 1 computer monitor and 1 label printing machine. The music seized was 100% of the Latin genre. The following is a list of artists on the unauthorized sound recording seized: Juanes, Alejandro Fernandez, Tego Calderon , Don Omar, Paulina Rubio, Marco Antonio Solis, Frank Reyes and Antony Santos.

On December 1, 2004, RIAA investigators assisted the New York Police Department 84th Precinct with actions at two Brooklyn retail locations. These actions resulted in the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of 3,600 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs.

North Carolina

On December 1, 2004, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, assisted by Agents for the North Carolina Secretary of State and RIAA investigators, executed two search warrants at La Providencia and Las Carolinas, two stores operated by the same owner. Seized during these raids were a total of 3,294 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs. Felony charges are pending for the owner.

Ohio

On December 7, 2004, Cleveland Police apprehended a suspect after conducting surveillance on his vehicle in a search for drugs. Instead, officers found illegal recordings and equipment used for counterfeiting. Confiscated as a result were 135 pirated CD-Rs, a duplicator tower, 50 blank CD-Rs and an Epson Stylus copier/scanner/printer.

Pennsylvania

On December 2, 2004, the Philadelphia Police Department Northwest Detective Division, with assistance from RIAA, executed three search warrants as the result of an RIAA investigation. One warrant was executed at a retail location with another at the suspect’s residence where he was manufacturing counterfeit CD-Rs. The third location was a storage facility where the defendant was storing and distributing the product. Three suspects were arrested and 54 CD-R burners, 2,000 insert cards and 9,626 counterfeit CD-Rs were recovered.

On December 22, 2004, the Philadelphia Police conducted an investigation of a silver Dodge van containing two occupants. During the search, the officers discovered nineteen cardboard boxes containing 782 counterfeit CD-Rs and 1,906 counterfeit DVDs. RIAA investigators examined the property and confirmed the contraband. Both suspects were arrested and charged with trademark counterfeiting. It is alleged that this van has been seen during surveillance at a suspected manufacturing and distributing location in West Philadelphia. The investigation is ongoing.

The Philadelphia Police Department, Northwest Detective Division, with the assistance of the RIAA, executed three search warrants at a retail location, residence and warehouse location. Seized during the warrants were 54 CD-R burners, 7 computer towers, 2,000 insert cards and over 9,626 finished counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs. Cash was also recovered from the above defendant’s residence. Three arrests were made in association with the criminal actions.

Puerto Rico

On Sunday, December 19, 2004, the Puerto Rico Vice Squad seized 900 pirated/counterfeit CD-Rs from a vendor at the Mayaguez Flea Market in Puerto Rico. Three individuals were arrested and charged with violating Puerto Rico’s True Name and Address Statute. All of the product seized consisted of Latin repertoire.

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