U.S. Busts – February 2005

RIAA Anti-Piracy Seizure Information

Alabama | Colorado | Florida | Georgia | New York | Nevada | North Carolina | Ohio | South Carolina | Texas | Utah
West Coast BustsArizona | California

Alabama

February 14, 2005 – Birmingham Police seized 3,842 CD-Rs after a traffic stop in Birmingham, Alabama. 2 individuals were arrested.

Colorado

February 6, 2005 – The RIAA testified in front of the Colorado Legislature’s Judiciary Committee in support of a bill that would elevate the penalties against persons found to be selling illicit sound recordings in violation of the Colorado True Name and Address statute.

Florida

February 28, 2005 – The Tallahassee Police Department seized a total of 934 pirate/counterfeit CD-Rs and music DVDs, as well as a sound system, from a total of 3 vendors in 2 separate operations in Tallahassee, Florida. All of the individuals were arrested and charged with violating Florida State Statute 540.11. All of the product seized consisted of Urban repertoire.

February 24, 2005 – The St. Petersburg Police Department, assisted by the RIAA, seized 4,828 counterfeit/pirated CD-R’s, 296 plant-pressed Music DVDs, 41 CD-R burners @ 52X Speed, 1 Professional Printer, and 4 computers from four retail stores in St. Petersburg, Florida. Seven individuals were arrested during this operation and charged for violating Florida’s True Name and Address Statute. The genre of music seized was 75% Urban Hip Hop and 25% Latin, containing such artists as, Marc Anthony, Jay -Z, Usher, and Shakira, among others.

February 23, 2005 – The Miami Dade Police Department, assisted by the RIAA, seized 7,456 pirated/counterfeit plant pressed CDs, and 1,371 plant-pressed music DVDs, from an individual in Miami, Florida. This individual was arrested and charged with violating Florida’s True Name and Address Statute. The genre of music seized was 100% Latin, containing artists such as David Bisbal, Marco Antonio Solis, and Marc Anthony, among others.

February 11, 2005 – A C&D was served at Hess Gas Station in Fort Pierce, FL, after vendor refused to voluntarily surrender his product.

February 11, 2005 – Miami Dade Police Department, assisted by the RIAA, seized 4,876 counterfeit/pirated CD-Rs, 3,000 counterfeit inserts, and 21 CD-R burners at 52x speed, from an individual in Miami, Florida. The individual was arrested and charged with violating Florida’s True Name and Address Statute. The genre of music seized was 100% Latin, consisting of such artists as Alejandro Fernandez, David Bisbal, Marc Anthony, among others.

Georgia

February 14, 2005 – Received correspondence from Dallas County: Gill Muse was given probation for an unspecified period of time and ordered to pay $1,830 in restitution to the RIAA. Muse was arrested in February 2004 with 541 pirate CD-Rs.

February 13, 2005 – Three vendors were observed selling pirated CD-Rs at the Trader’s Village Flea Market in Grand Prairie, Texas. 2,133 CD-Rs were surrendered to RIAA for destruction. Approximately 75% of the product was Latin music and the remaining 25% Urban/Hip Hop. Grupo Montez, Vicente Fernandez, Usher, Alicia Keys and other popular artists were among those whose works were being pirated. Management of the flea market was notified and they subsequently banned the vendors from returning.

February 10, 2005 – The Atlanta Police Department and members of the FBI executed 2 search warrants, assisted by representatives of the RIAA. 68,000 CD-Rs and 27,000 DVDs were seized and two individuals were taken into custody.

New York

February 16, 2005 – The New York Police Department’s 034 Precinct, assisted by the RIAA, executed a search warrant at AB Entertainment located at 330 Audubon Avenue in Upper Manhattan. The police action resulted in the arrest of one person for a misdemeanor trademark offense. This police action resulted in the seizure of 277 pirated CD-Rs, 30 pirated CDs and 88 DVDs. The music seized was 50% Latin and 50% Urban. The following is a list of artists on the unauthorized sound recording seized: Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderon, Don Omar, Antony Santos Frank Reyes, Monchy & Alexandra, Aventura, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Nelly and Eminem.

North Carolina

February 13, 2005 – Rocky Mount Police, assisted by representatives of the RIAA, conducted seizures at the Wallace Flea Market in Wallace, NC. Two individuals were arrested, and 3,362 CD-Rs were seized.

South Carolina

February 13, 2005 – In Easily, SC, Anderson County PD raided a retail store, seized 1,846 CD-Rs and arrested one person.

Texas

February 19, 2005 – RIAA investigators conducted a voluntary surrender at Nacogdoches Trade Days in Nacogdoches, Texas and seized 581 pirated sound recordings from a vendor. All of the product seized was of the Latin music genre.

February 14, 2005 – Received correspondence from Dallas County: Gill Muse was given probation for an unspecified period of time and ordered to pay $1,830 in restitution to the RIAA. Muse was arrested in February 2004 with 541 pirate CD-Rs.

February 8, 2005 – Officers of the University of Texas at Arlington Police stopped a suspect for a traffic violation and subsequently the suspect was arrested for outstanding warrants. Search incident to arrest they seized 250 pirated CD-Rs as well as 20 DVD movies. Charges are pending for violating Texas Actual name and Address statute. Items seized are of the Rap and R&B genres and consisted of such artists as Snoop Dogg, John Legend, The Game and pre-release of Slim Thug “Already Platinum”.

February 7, 2005 – Received correspondence from the Judicial District of Tarrant County. Silverio Sanchez pled out to a Class A misdemeanor and was sentenced to 24 months of probation and ordered to pay $1,600 in restitution to the RIAA. Sanchez was arrested Oct. 25, 2004, at Trades Day Flea Market in Forest Hill, Texas with 511 counterfeit CD-Rs in his possession.

February 5, 2005 – 362 pirated CD-Rs were surrendered from two vendors at Sunny Flea Market in Houston, TX. All product recovered was Latin music and contained works from Grupo Montez, Paulina Rubio, Luis Miguel and other popular Latin artists.

Utah

February 27, 2005 – 643 pirate CD-Rs surrendered via voluntary surrender/C&D action against 3 vendors in Salt Lake City, UT.

West Coast Busts

Arizona

February 27, 2005 – 731 pirate CDs surrendered via voluntary surrender/C&D action against 3 vendors in Phoenix, AZ.

February 27, 2005 – 318 pirate CDs (and 808 DVDs) seized by Phoenix PD from vendor/distributor, felony arrest. (note: suspect identified as a supplier to vendors involved in voluntary surrenders (731 pirate CDs) earlier in the day.)

February 27, 2005 – 87 counterfeit CDs surrendered via voluntary surrender/C&D action against vendor at El Gran Mercado Flea Mkt, Phoenix, AZ.

February 20, 2005 – 952 pirate CDs surrendered via voluntary surrender/C&D action against 4 street vendors in Phoenix AZ.

February 18, 2005 – 302 pirate CDs surrendered via voluntary surrender/C&D action against 2 vendors in Phoenix AZ.

February 12, 2005 – 482 pirate CDs and 280 pirate CD-Rs surrendered in Phoenix AZ via voluntary surrender/C&D actions against 3 vendors.

February 13, 2005 – 321 pirate CD-Rs surrendered in Phoenix AZ via voluntary surrender/C&D actions against 3 vendors.

California

February 27, 2005 – 560 pirate CD-Rs and 200 pirate CDs surrendered via voluntary surrender/C&D action against 2 vendors in Mira Loma, CA.

February 27, 2005 – 615 pirate and counterfeit CD-Rs surrendered via VSA/C&D action against 2 vendors at Bel-Air Swap Meet in Bloomington, CA.

February 26, 2005 – 243 pirate CDs seized by LAPD Foothill Vice, 3 misdemeanor arrests.

February 26, 2005 – 1,271 pirate and counterfeit CD-Rs surrendered via voluntary surrender/C&D at market and from vendor in Fontana, CA.

February 25, 2005 – 1,627 pirate and counterfeit CDs surrendered via voluntary surrender/C&D at Jaguar Records in Azusa, CA.

February 19, 2005 – 913 pirate CD-Rs seized by LAPD West Valley Vice, 1 misdemeanor arrest.

February 17, 2005 – 1,757 pirate CDs/CD-Rs seized by Stanislaus PD during self-initiated (post-RIAA training) street vendor sweeps, 8 misdemeanor arrests.

February 17, 2005 – 90 pirate CD-Rs surrendered in downtown L.A. via voluntary surrender/C&D actions against vendor.

February 16, 2005 – 165 pirate CD-Rs surrendered via voluntary surrender/C&D at La Colmenita market in North Hills, CA.

February 14, 2005 – 2,400 pirate CDs/CD-Rs seized from carnival vendor by LA Co. Sheriff’s Industry Station, 1 felony arrest.

February 14, 2005 – 300 pirate CD-Rs seized by Montclair PD, 1 misdemeanor arrest.

February 13, 2005 – 1,318 pirate/counterfeit CD-Rs seized by Beaumont PD at Beaumont Swap Meet from 3 vendors, 3 misdemeanor arrests.

February 13, 2005 – 3,016 pirate CD-Rs surrendered at Winchester CA Swap Meet via voluntary surrender/C&D actions against 12 vendors.

February 13, 2005 – 1,547 pirate CDs/CD-Rs surrendered via voluntary surrender/C&D action against 13 vendors in downtown LA.

Scroll to Top