RIAA Anti-Piracy Seizure Information
California | Florida | New Jersey | New York | Pennsylvania
California
May 1, 2003 – Investigator Aaron Aguilar (RIAA Dallas Regional Officer) assisted local law enforcement in the arrest of the suspect who would provide information on other distribution locations. Through this investigation, he provided information to target the distribution locations in the Los Angeles area. The suspect was escorted to L.A. by Aguilar. Upon their arrival, he proceeded to identify all locations involved in the distribution of product run by local LA distributors. 20,602 Counterfeit CDs, 25 ,050 Pirate CDs, 18,057 Jewel Trays, 51,000 Plastic Wraps and over 40,000 Counterfeit/Pirate Insert Cards were seized.
May 21, 2003 – Detectives from the CA Highway Patrol, Cargo Theft Unit, executed two criminal search warrants with the assistance of the RIAA – A/P Unit. Both residences were searched and two persons were taken into custody. Seized during the search were 5 CD-R burners, 3,500 CD-Rs, 525 DVDs and various related manufacturing raw product.
May 21, 2003 – One subject was sentenced to 20 days in county jail, 3 years probation and restitution in the amount of $1,200. This is a result of offering for sale unauthorized product in violation of Statute (CA) 653w. Interesting that the subject had only 83 pieces of product in his possession at the time of the offense.
Florida
May 16, 2003 – Miami Dade Police Officers raided two street vendors in Carol City, Fl. Both vendors cooperated in lieu of arrest. Total of 5960 CD-Rs seized from one vendor and 1,034 pirate CD-Rs from the other. 1,490 pirate/counterfeit CD-Rs were Latin music. Vendors supplied details about subsequent buys from a distributor in Atlanta, GA.
New Jersey
May 28, 2003 – Two suspects were sentenced to the Pretrial Intervention program for 12 months and 30 hours of community sentence resulting from a previous arrest that revealed 497 Counterfeit CD-Rs.
New York
May 1, 2003 – The NYO assisted the NYPD-s Bronx District Attorneys Squad in the execution of a Bronx distributor located at 1511 Westchester Ave, in the rear of a clothing and luggage store. This resulted in the seizure of 5200 counterfeit CD-Rs, 1000 piratical CD-Rs and the arrest of one individual for Trademark counterfeiting and Failure to Disclose the Origin of a Recording, both felonies.
May 5, 2003 – 46th Precinct with the assistance of the RIAA did execute a search warrant at the distribution location in the Bronx resulting in one arrest and seizure of 14,000 Latin counterfeit/pirate CD-Rs. Artists/labes include Celia Cruz, BMG Latin, Sony Discos, Enrique Iglesias and Universal Latino.
May 14, 2003 – The NYPD along with members of this region executed 2 search warrants, one in Manhattan and the other in Brooklyn which resulted in the seizure of 31,400 counterfeit CD-Rs in Manhattan with 2 arrests and 11,000 CD-Rs in Brooklyn with 1 arrest. The music genre was 60%Urban, 30% Pop and 10% Latin.
May 15, 2003 – A warrant was executed with the NYPD at a distributor in lower Manhattan. This raid resulted in one subject being arrested and the seizure of 10,200 counterfeit CD-Rs. The music genre was 80% Urban, 10% Pop and 10% Latin.
May 15, 2003 – Various members of our trademark workgroup accompanied the NYPD and Mayors Mid-Town Task Force in multiple raids on Canal Street. This operation involved units from the NYPD consisting of the 1st precinct, 5th precinct, Manhattan South Peddlers Task Force, Traffic, Property Clerks Office, Manhattan South Patrol Bureau, Legal Bureau, Intelligence Division, and the Organized Crime Control Bureau Other City Agencies included the Mayor’s Office of Midtown Enforcement, Criminal Justice Coordinators Office, Department of Consumer Affairs and the Department of Buildings. The locations raided were in the Canal Street and Broadway Area for a total of 15 storefront cubicles. These actions resulted in (8) arrests, (16) violations issued by the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs, (2) Hearing notices, (10) violations issued by the Department of Buildings (7) closure orders issued by the NYPD Legal Bureau. In addition, over 2000 counterfeit/pirated CD-R’s were seized as well as (925) counterfeit DVDs, 125 counterfeit VHS tapes and the seizure of counterfeit apparel, jewelry, perfume and other accessories exceeding over $500,000 loss to our respective industries.
May 16, 2003 – A search warrant was executed by the 46th Precinct with the assistance of RIAA that resulted in four arrests and seizure of 31,000 Latin CD-Rs. This location was a distribution center in a residential building supplying street vendors in the Bronx and Upper Manhattan.
May 20, 2003 – Members of the NYO assisted NYPD 1st Precinct on retail enforcement at 6 locations and their basement storage inside 365-367 Canal Street and 363 Canal Street, NY. This action resulted in the seizure of approximately 31,400 unauthorized sound recordings in counterfeit and pirated compact discs in CD-R format. Artists include Shakira, Faith Hill, Brian McKnight.
May 22, 2003 – A search warrant was executed by the S.I.T.F with the assistance of the RIAA that resulted in one arrest and seizure of 17,800 Latin CD-Rs. This location was a distribution location in a storage facility supplying street vendors in the Manhattan & Bronx areas. Trademarks include BMG, Universal, EMI, Sony, WEA.
May 22, 2003 – Another search warrant was executed by the S.I.T.F with the assistance of RIAA which resulted in one arrest and seizure of 18,800 Counterfeit CD-Rs. Music Genre 70% Urban, 30% Pop. Artists include Kelly Price, R Kelly, Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Yolanda Adams, Anita Baker, J-Lo, Brittney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
May 22, 2003 – Members of the NYPD Major Case Squad executed a search warrant at 134 West 29th Street Room #910 which resulted in the arrest of one individual and the seizure of 828 Counterfeit CD-Rs. Music genre 100% Urban.
Pennsylvania
May 28, 2003 – Philly P/O Lyons assigned to the 18th Police District was on patrol in the area of 4000 Market St., observed the defendant, selling CDs and DVD movies including -Matrix Reloaded- which is currently in theatres. Further investigation revealed the product to be counterfeit. 311 counterfeit/pirate CDs were seized and 59 pirated movies.