RIAA Anti-Piracy Seizure Information
Arizona | Arkansas | California | Florida | Georgia | Idaho | Illinois | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Michigan | Missouri | New York | North Carolina | Ohio
Arizona
July 2005 – During the month of July, members of law enforcement in Mesa and Phoenix seized over 1,452 counterfeit and piratical CD-Rs and 228 counterfeit DVD movies from four suspects, who were arrested and charged for counterfeit trademark violations.
Arkansas
July 20, 2005 – A Little Rock defendant was sentenced to two years probation with the first six months to be served in home detention with electronic monitoring by the U. S. District Court in Little Rock. The sentence came as the result of an August 2004 arrest by the FBI. Seized from the offender’s residence were 4,000 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs and eight CD-R burners.
July 1, 2005 – Felony charges were filed against three suspects from Chicago who were arrested at the Pine Bluff Arkansas Flea Market in February of 2004 for manufacturing and selling pirated CDs. Recovered by the Pine Bluff Police Department were a total of 332 counterfeit CD-Rs, 200 blank CD-Rs, 3,500 counterfeit movie DVDs and 17 CD-R burners. All of the suspects are set for trial in mid-August.
California
July 29, 2005 – A Santa Ana street vendor pled guilty to misdemeanor charges related to a seizure by the Santa Ana Police Department five days earlier. Seized from the suspect were a total of 175 counterfeit CD-Rs. He was sentenced to three years probation, $100 restitution to the RIAA ordered to serve seven days in the county jail.
July 2005 – Throughout the month of July, officers from the following police departments: Santa Maria, Riverside, Santa Ana, Los Angeles Police Department (Southwest Vice, Hollenbeck Vice, Mission Vice, Central Vice, Hollywood Vice Newton Vice) and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Century Station arrested 42 suspects, confiscated 6,248 counterfeit movie DVDs and seized an impressive 154,883 counterfeit and piratical CD-Rs in a variety of musical genres. Had the CD-Rs been accounted for at retail, the approximate amount would be worth over $2 million USD.
Florida
July 7, 2005 – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the RIAA, served a search warrant on several flea market vendors in Jacksonville. The operation resulted in the seizure of 32,000 pirate and counterfeit CD-Rs, five CD-R Burners, 10,000 counterfeit DVD movies, $2,000 in cash and the arrest of five suspects who were charged with violating Florida State Statutes.
July 1, 2005 – The Tampa Police Department, with assistance from the RIAA, conducted a sweep of the east side of Tampa, which resulted in the seizure of a total of 2,470 pirate and counterfeit CD-Rs, one vehicle and $300 in cash. Two suspects were arrested and charged with violating Florida State Statutes.
Georgia
July 29, 2005 – Atlanta Police officers raided Metropolitan Avenue in Atlanta and arrested two people. After being notified the following day, an RIAA representative arrived on the scene to find that the evidence had not been collected or secured, and was in fact being looted at that time. The Atlanta Police Department was contacted immediately and the evidence was collected and inventoried. Seized from the location were 24,180 counterfeit CD-Rs and 1,921 counterfeit DVDs.
July 23, 2005 – RIAA representatives responded to a complaint that counterfeit goods were being sold at the annual Atlanta Music Festival. RIAA investigators observed approximately eight vendors engaged in the sale of counterfeit music and DVDs at which point, the Atlanta Police Department were notified. Due to manpower constraints, the RIAA were advised by the officers that they would not be able to arrest all of the vendors but the RIAA were able to assist with the arrest of two vendors as a result. Seized as a result of these actions were a total of 2,715 counterfeit CD-Rs and 1,050 counterfeit DVDs.
July 20, 2005 – Three search and seizure warrants were executed by the Atlanta Police Department at Bankhead Flea Market. A total of 13,330 counterfeit CD-Rs and 5,553 counterfeit DVDs were seized and two suspects were arrested.
July 14, 2005 – Atlanta police officers arrested one suspect and seized 9,614 counterfeit CD-Rs and 6,795 counterfeit DVDs from a retail store.
July 15, 2005 – The Atlanta Police Department responded to an armed robbery at the Discount Mall on Headland Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered that the victim was engaged in the sale of suspected counterfeit CD-Rs and DVDs. RIAA investigators were notified that one suspect was taken into custody and a total of 5,421 counterfeit CD-Rs and 840 counterfeit movie DVDs were seized.
July 6, 2005 – Atlanta police officers executed a criminal search warrant while in the search for narcotics and discovered a large-scale manufacturing and distribution facility. Seized by the officers, with assistance from RIAA investigators, were 39,856 counterfeit CD-Rs, 18,545 counterfeit DVD-Rs movies, 196 CDR/ DVD-R burners and a cache of raw materials. This case is still under investigation.
July 2, 2005 – Agents from the DEA, while executing a criminal narcotics search warrant uncovered a large distribution location. RIAA investigators responded to assist agents in their recovery efforts of approximately 49,799 counterfeit and piratical CD-Rs, 23,455 counterfeit DVD-R movies, eight CD-R/DVD-R burners and 35,000 blank CD-Rs and jewel trays.
Idaho
July 2005 – During the month of July, Cease and Desist/ Voluntary Surrender actions taken at retail locations in Boise, Caldwell and Nampa resulted in the confiscation of 1,395 counterfeit and piratical CD-Rs. RIAA investigators responded to the locations as a result of numerous complaints received on the 1-800-Bad-Beat hotline.
Illinois
July 15, 2005 – An investigation into an underground mall located at Madison and Pulaski (Chicago), led by RIAA investigators resulted in the confiscation of 3,130 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs, 2,870 counterfeit DVDs and five arrests. The Madison and Pulaski areas are a major distribution point for the Chicagoland area, Northern Illinois, and Southern Wisconsin.
July 14, 2005 – While on routine patrol, Chicago police officers conducted a traffic stop on a motorist for not wearing a seat belt. The suspect failed to produce a driver’s license or proof of insurance at which point, he was taken into custody. A search of his vehicle was conducted and 600 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs and 250 counterfeit DVD movies were recovered from the vehicle. The man was taken to the 6th District for processing and charged accordingly.
July 10, 2005 – RIAA investigators conducted several Voluntary Surrender Agreements at Montana Charlie’s Flea Market in Bolingbrook. A total of 1,883 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs were recovered from four different vendors.
July 9, 2005 – RIAA investigators initiated a Voluntary Surrender Agreement at the Swap O Rama Flea Market in Chicago. As a result, one vendor surrendered 808 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs. The vendor was educated on music piracy and promised not to sell or buy illegal CDs in the future.
Kansas
July 7, 2005 – The Wichita Kansas Police assisted by RIAA investigators, executed a search warrant at The Meal Ticket Underground Music in Wichita. Seized from this manufacturing location were 1,391 counterfeit CD-Rs, 150 counterfeit DVDs and 10 CD-R burners. The potential annual output from this facility was $5,358,306. Favorable news coverage appeared on the air in the Wichita market. Felony True Name and Address charges are expected in Sedgwick County against the store’s owner.
Kentucky
July 30, 2005 – The RIAA assisted the Georgetown Police Department with an investigation into the Country Worldwide Flea Market. The investigation resulted in the seizure of 2,097 counterfeit CD-Rs and 463 counterfeit movie DVDs. Both of the vendors on the scene were arrested and charged with Unauthorized Transfer of Sound Recordings.
Louisiana
July 25, 2005 – A man pled guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Traffic in Unauthorized Sound Recordings of Live Musical Performances in U. S. District Court in Lafayette. Hubbell is the eighth defendant to be convicted in a series of investigations and prosecutions dating back to 2000, and coordinated by the Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U. S. Attorney’s Office. A sentencing date has not been set.
Michigan
July 26, 2005 – A Detroit man was sentenced to 30 months probation and ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution to the RIAA and $1,500 in restitution to the MPAA. Detroit police arrested the man after they observed him selling illegal CDs and DVDs from the trunk of his vehicle. At the time of arrest, police seized 749 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs and 188 counterfeit movie DVD-Rs.
July 13, 2005 – A Detroit man pled guilty to the sale of illegal CD-Rs and was sentenced to 2.5 days in jail (time served) and 24 months probation. The defendant was also ordered to pay $750 in restitution to the RIAA and $180 in restitution to the MPAA. This sentence follows a May 2005 arrest and seizure of 368 counterfeit CD-Rs and 19 DVD movies.
Missouri
July 1, 2005 – A St. Louis man pled guilty to a felony charge of violating Missouri’s labeling laws. This case stems from his November 2004 arrest and the seizure of 1,384 pirate CD-Rs and 730 counterfeit DVDs in St. Louis.
New York
July 28, 2005 – The New York Police Department Midtown South Precinct conducted enforcement action on Broadway in New York City resulting in the arrest of two individuals, and the seizure of 8,500 counterfeit CD-Rs and 9,805 counterfeit movie DVDs.
July 20, 2005 – The New York Police Department’s MTS Precinct in conjunction with the NYPD Legal Division Civil Enforcement Unit, executed two search warrants in New York City resulting in the seizure of 27,466 counterfeit CD-Rs, 16,700 counterfeit movie DVDs and the arrests of two suspects. Also on this date, RIAA investigators assisted members of the New York Police Department’s 46th precinct in retail enforcement at Star Jewelry on East Fordham Road in the Bronx resulting in one arrest and the seizure of 1,032 piratical CD-Rs.
July 13, 2005 – Members of the New York Police Department Manhattan South Precinct executed a search warrant on West 30 Street in New York City resulting in the arrest of three individuals and the seizure of 7,800 counterfeit CD-Rs, 1,600 counterfeit music DVDs and 25,000 movie DVDs.
July 12, 2005 – The New York Police Department’s 52nd Precinct, assisted by the RIAA, executed a search warrant at “El Mundo” located on West Fordham Road in the Bronx. This police action resulted in two arrests and the seizure of 1,929 counterfeit and piratical CD-Rs and 76 counterfeit movie DVDs.
North Carolina
July 22, 2005 – Agents with the North Carolina Secretary of State seized 874 counterfeit CD-Rs from two retail locations in Charlotte. No arrests have been made in connection with the seizures.
July 12, 2005 – Federal, state and local law enforcement agents, assisted by the RIAA, executed two search warrants at retail locations in Elizabeth City. Authorities seized 4,897 counterfeit CD-Rs, 1,693 counterfeit movie DVDs, four CD-R burners, various inserts and 300 jewel cases. The owner of the first establishment was charged with the illegal articles as well as Possession of a Firearm by Felon, Possession of Cocaine and Drug Paraphernalia. The second store owner will be charged at a future date.
Ohio
July 15, 2005 – The Lindale Village Police Department received an anonymous tip that illegal CDs were being sold at a retail store in East Cleveland. Police made three undercover purchases at the location and requested that an RIAA investigator inspect the CD-Rs. An RIAA investigator confirmed the CDs were counterfeit and a search warrant was secured. At the time of the search warrant, CD-Rs were being manufactured in a back room with inkjet printers producing cover artwork. Police confiscated 820 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs, 20 CD/DVD burners, 640 blank CD-Rs, 300 jewel cases, three printers, three scanners, and $42,000 in cash. The store owner and another offender were arrested and charged with felonies.
Texas
July 28, 2005 – A Grand Prairie woman was convicted and ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution to the RIAA following an arrest in August 2004 at Traders Village Flea Market. Seized at the time of her arrest were 644 counterfeit sound recordings.
July 20, 2005 – A street vendor, arrested by Dallas police officers in February 2003 with 4,012 counterfeit CD-Rs, was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay $2,500 in restitution to the RIAA.
July 12, 2005 – Houston Police Department, assisted by RIAA Investigators, conducted a search warrant at UAR GLOBAL in Houston. The Houston police department seized 18,173 counterfeit CD-Rs, 2,207 counterfeit music DVDs, discmaker shrink wrap machine and two computers. Houston police arrested two defendants who will be charged with violating the Texas Actual Name and Address Statute.
July 9, 2005 – The El Paso Police responded to a call at Ascarate Flea Market in reference to several vendors selling pirated music. Upon arrival, a patrol officer found 1,016 piratical CD-Rs abandoned at a booth. The product was seized and checked into the property room.
July 2, 2005 – The Houston Police Department arrested and charged two street vendors and seized a total of 2,795 counterfeit CD-Rs and DVDs. Also on this date, 14,000 piratical CD-Rs were recovered from two vendors at the Liquidation Warehouse in Houston. This case is still under investigation.