U.S. Busts – February 2007

RIAA Anti-Piracy Seizure Information

California | Georgia | New York | Tennessee | Texas

California

February 9, 2007 – During the month of February, 14 separate incidents occurred at the same alley in Los Angeles. The LAPD, RIAA and local business security worked diligently on all 14 enforcement actions. On February 9, 2007, five arrests and seizures were made. Officials seized over 3,000 illicit recordings during the sweep. These included 1,541 from the arrested suspects and 2,096 additional CD-Rs from fleeing suspects. The suspects left the scene, leaving their illegal vending booths when officers arrived.

Georgia

February 2007 – While conducting an unrelated food inspection violation arrest, deputies discovered food was not the only thing this criminal burnt. Officials found a sizable DVD manufacturing lab inside the man’s residence. MPAA Investigators were called and assisted with the collection of evidence. Two towers with 16 burners were seized from the location. Over 7,000 DVDs and 1,000 CDs were transported to an MPAA facility.

February 5, 2007 – Fulton County Police executed a search warrant in Atlanta. The information, obtained by RIAA investigators, gave reason for the search. During the investigation, officials uncovered a pirated music and movie location. They seized 58,135 pirated CDRs and 16,770 DVD-Rs.

February 7, 2007 – While officers from the Atlanta PD executed a search warrant, they found a man locked inside a room. The subject eventually opened the door for officers to continue their search. On the other side, investigators discovered why the man was hiding behind the locked door. As officials entered the room, five-burner towers (eight positions each) were running at one time. Just in time, eight of its trays indicated that a burn session had been completed. RIAA and MPAA investigators were notified of the seizure and assisted with packing the pirated music and burners. Investigators packed the counterfeit product when another discovery was made. The subject was not only hiding 40 burners and nearly 1,000 CD-Rs, officials also found 4 handguns and an AK-47 assault rifle.

New York

February 2007 – While on surveillance for a federal investigation, RIAA investigators received a call about a subject in the area selling illegal products. On the scene, investigators observed the subject selling CDs out of a black gym bag. He was standing by his ’92 Cadillac in a shopping center parking lot. A beat officer was contacted to confront the man. After being checked for warrants, the subject had an open warrant for FTA-Drugs. He was arrested for selling counterfeit CDs. A search of his car revealed he was into more than pirated CDs. Officers found approximately 200 grams of marijuana along with the 205 counterfeit CDs.

February 6, 2007 – The RIAA assisted the NYPD Organized Crime Investigation Division in executing two separate search warrants. At one location, a burner lab was discovered with 55 CD/DVD burners. The other location uncovered 133 CD/DVD burners and over 33,000 DVD-R movies. A week later investigators were at it again, seizing another 58 burners.

February 15, 2007 – Investigators assisted in seizing 87 burners and over $27,000. Days later, another burner lab was located with 57 burners seized.

Tennessee

February 12, 2007 – RIAA investigators assisted the Memphis Organized Crime Unit in executing a search warrant. Officials discovered a burner lab that led to the seizure of 22 burners, $12,000 in cash and over 2,000 counterfeit CDs.

Texas

February 24, 2007 – Austin Police and RIAA Investigators had information of a suspect manufacturing and distributing illicit product. The suspect was stopped for a traffic violation and consented to a police search. After police discovered pirated product in his car, they later searched the man’s residence. Officers found 10,799 CD-Rs and four burners. The subject was then arrested. Later that day, investigators continued their lead of a suspect offering counterfeit/pirated CD-Rs and DVDs for sale. Officers arrested the subject at a local Flea Market and seized over 3,000 CD-Rs

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