RIAA Anti-Piracy Seizure Information
Arizona | California | Florida | Maryland | New Jersey | New York | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Virginia | Dominican Republic
Arizona
On November 17, 2003, a Phoenix man was sentenced in Maricopa County Superior Court to two years felony probation, a $5,000 fine and $5,000 in restitution based upon his possession of 2,000 CDs that were seized in January of 2003.
California
On November 14, 2003, a Highland Park music store was the target of a search warrant by the LAPD that resulted in the seizure of 1,056 counterfeit and pirate recordings. Also confiscated at the scene were approximately two pounds of cocaine and three pounds of marijuana. One suspect was arrested and charged with felony drug and music piracy charges.
Florida
On November 14, 2003, the RIAA conducted a voluntary surrender of counterfeit CD-Rs on a flea market vendor at the Swap Shop Flea Market in Sunrise. A total of 971 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs were voluntarily handed over.
On November 26, 2003, the Hialeah Police Department, assisted by the RIAA, seized 290 counterfeit CD-Rs, two 52X speed burners, and a color copier from a street vendor. One individual was arrested.
On November 21, 2003, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit, with assistance from the RIAA, conducted an operation at the King’s Flea Market and seized approximately 3,500 sound recordings. Five individuals were arrested and charged. All of the product seized consisted of the urban genre.
Maryland
On November 6, 2003, the Maryland State Police responded to an accident on I-95 in Maryland. At the time of the accident, one suspect was transporting 1,404 counterfeit CD-Rs, various DVD and VHS tapes and over $10,000.00 in counterfeit currency. All of the contraband was seized.
On November 18, on a covert narcotics enforcement detail in the Woodmoor Shopping Center, Baltimore County Police Detectives observed a suspect selling CDs out of his vehicle. After an undercover purchase, the defendant was arrested and 214 counterfeit CDs were confiscated.
On November 18, 2003, a Baltimore man was found guilty of two counts of Counterfeit Trademark and one count of Unauthorized Sale. He received $255 in fines and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,500 at a rate of $125 a month through parole and probation.
On November 23, 2003, Baltimore Police arrested two suspects for selling counterfeit CD-Rs and open warrants. 570 CD-Rs and 433 DVDs were seized. The same officer arrested one of the suspects at the same location in September.
On November 23, 2003, Baltimore Police, assisted by the RIAA, seized 122 Counterfeit CD-Rs and 338 DVDs from a vendor. An arrest warrant is pending.
On November 25, 2003, as a result of an open container violation, Baltimore Police seized 131 counterfeit CD-Rs and 30 counterfeit DVDs and arrested one suspect.
On November 26, 2003, while on routine patrol, Baltimore Police arrested one suspect for selling counterfeit CDs out of a purple canvass bag to passers-by. Sixty-seven counterfeit CDs were seized.
On November 28, 2003, Baltimore Police observed a suspect displaying CDs for sale at the McDonalds in the 5100 Block of York Road. The suspect could not produce a peddler-s license and was placed under arrest. Search incident to arrest revealed 41 counterfeit CD-Rs.
New Jersey
On November 7, 2003, a Camden man was sentenced to 5 years incarceration and ordered to pay $2,500 in restitution. This was the result of an April seizure that yielded 896 Counterfeit and Pirate CD-Rs.
On November 18, 2003, a Fort Lee woman was sentenced to a 6 month Pre Trial Intervention (PTI) Program and ordered to pay $75.00 to the Violent Crimes Compensation Board and $30.00 to the Safe Neighborhood Fund. Restitution in the amount of $5,000.00 was also ordered to be paid before the six-month PTI period. The defendant was arrested in July 2003 for selling bootleg Barbara Streisand DVDs from a New Jersey P.O. Box.
On November 18, 2003, the Vineland Police Department executed a search warrant at a retail location which resulted in the arrest of the owner and one employee, along with a seizure of 3,842 pirate CD-Rs, 13 CD-R burners, two computers, two printers, two scanners and 1,400 jewel cases.
New York
On November 17, 2003, in the City of Passaic, a defendant was fined $500.00 and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,500. This defendant was a vendor found to be in possession of 226 pirated CD-Rs.
On November 18, 2003, the RIAA assisted the NYPD in the execution of a search warrant at The Variety Store in Astoria. This resulted in the arrest of one suspect and the seizure of 717 counterfeit compact discs.
On November 20, 2003, a search warrant was executed by the NYPD with the assistance of the RIAA which resulted in one arrest and seizure of 7,350 CD-Rs and 310 Music DVDs. The suspect was arrested and charged with felony trademark violations. This location was a distributor in the Bronx and was supplying vendors in Upper Manhattan & Bronx areas.
On November 20, 2003, the NYPD executed two search warrants, the first resulting in the arrest of eight individuals and the seizure of 7,200 counterfeit CD-Rs. The genre of music was approximately 60% rock and 40% urban. The Peddler Unit of the NYPD executed a search warrant at the second location resulting in the arrest of one suspect and the seizure of 38,800 counterfeit CDs.
On November 21, 2003, Suffolk City Police Department arrested one suspect who was selling counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs from his vehicle. The suspect consented to a search of his home, where four CD burners were discovered. Items seized included 1,500 CD-Rs (750 counterfeit, 750 pirate), four burners, one color copier, 650 counterfeit labels, one personal computer and 500 blank CD-Rs.
On November 25, 2003, a search warrant was executed by the OCID Trademark Unit with the assistance of the RIAA which resulted in one arrest and seizure of 10,600 CD-Rs and 400 Music DVDs. One suspect was arrested and charged. This location was a distributor in the Bronx and was supplying vendors in Upper Manhattan & Bronx areas.
On November 25, 2003, the NYPD arrested one suspect after stopping his pickup truck and observing 1,300 counterfeit/pirate CD-Rs under a tarp in the truck bed area.
On November 30, 2003, the NYPD seized 530 CD-Rs from four vendors. One suspect was arrested, one served a summons, and two of the vendors fled the scene abandoning their product.
Ohio
On November 6, 2003, a Clevland man plead guilty and was sentenced to 2 years supervised probation, 100 hours of community service, submission to random drug testing and must pay $7,012.50 in restitution as a result of an April arrest and seizure that yielded 925 Counterfeit CD-Rs, one Printer, one Scanner, a 9mm Pistol, and six CD-R burners.
Pennsylvania
On November 18, 2003, a search warrant was executed at a retail location by the Horsham Township Police Department resulting in the arrest of the owner and the seizure of 2,030 illicit sound recordings.
Virginia
On November 13, 2003, a Norfolk woman plead guilty in Norfolk Circuit Court to a felony charge and received a 12 month suspended sentence and was ordered to pay $5,000.00 in restitution. When the restitution is paid, the charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor and the defendant will serve 30 days in jail with five years probation. This is a result of a March 2003 arrest and seizure of 771 Counterfeit CD-Rs.
On November 18, 2003, after an undercover purchase, Norfolk Police conducted a consent search of Punnie’s Records in the 6200 Block of Sewells Point Road. The search recovered 134 Pirate CD-Rs, 17 Pirate DVDs, and 27 Counterfeit VHS tapes. The owner was arrested and charged with a felony. On December 23, 2003, the defendant plead guilty to an amended misdemeanor charge and received 12 months suspended sentence, a $50 fine, 75 hrs community service and 2 years probation. The defendant was also ordered to pay $400.00 in restitution.
Dominican Republic
On November 28, 2003, Adoprofono, with assistance from the RIAA, conducted several raids in the province of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic which resulted in the seizure of 9,700 illicit sound recordings in CD-R and cassette format. Five people were detained in connection with the sale and manufacturing of illicit products.