June 1, 2002 - Jackson, TN
Based on a complaint of vendors selling illicit sound recordings at a
Jackson, Tennessee flea market, an investigator from the RIAA Anti-Piracy
Unit conducted a survey of the location, which revealed a vendor selling
suspect recordings for as low as $6. After the investigator identified
himself as a representative of the RIAA, the vendor voluntarily agreed
to surrender his recordings. 1,779 alleged counterfeit recordings were
confiscated, including titles from Merle Haggard, Lee Ann Womack, Garth Brooks,
the Dixie Chicks, Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, Led Zeppelin, Creed and the
Coyote Ugly Soundtrack.
June 5, 2002 - New York, NY
Two separate actions were taken against major
distributors and manufacturers in New York City. The first action consisted
of the U.S. Secret Service executing two search warrants in mid-town New York
City. Approximately 65,000 alleged counterfeit CD-Rs were seized. Arrest
warrants have been obtained against two individuals and arrests are expected
in both cases.
A self-storage facility in upper Manhattan was the target of the second
enforcement action. A two-month investigation by the Organized Control
Investigations Division of the NYPD and the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit resulted in
the execution of warrants at four manufacturing locations and two distribution
locations. A total of 22,000 alleged counterfeit CD-Rs and 118 burners were
seized. At the time of the warrant, the burners were running at speeds as
high as 16x. The police action also resulted in the arrest of four
individuals.
June 6, 2002 - Overland Park, KS
The Overland Park, Kansas Police Department, with assistance from the RIAA
Anti-Piracy Unit and a representative of the Indian music industry, executed
search warrants at two local grocery stores suspected of selling unauthorized
Indian audio and video recordings. A total of 4,108 alleged pirate music
videos, 400 alleged counterfeit and pirate CDs, 35 alleged counterfeit DVDs,
24 VCRs and 2 DVD players were seized from the two locations.
One week later, the Shawnee Police Department and Lenexa Police Department
coordinated their efforts with the Overland Park Police, the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit,
and a representative of the Indian music industry to execute two
search warrants at flea markets in Lenexa and Shawnee, KS. Authorities had
received similar reports that unauthorized video and sound recordings were common
to both locations. Approximately 12,000 alleged illicit music videos and
500 alleged illicit CDs were seized, and police also confiscated one
16-speed CD-R burner.
June 11, 2002 - Rocky Mount, NC
The Nash County Sheriff's Office, in coordination with the RIAA Anti-Piracy
Unit, raided a Rocky Mount, NC flea market. Four vendors were arrested for selling
sound recordings that investigators suspected as counterfeit. A total of 6,874
alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs, 578 alleged pirate cassettes and $598
in cash were seized from the four individuals, who were all charged with possession
of unauthorized sound recordings. In addition, 6,449 alleged illicit CD-Rs were
seized from approximately 8 more abandoned booths.
103 alleged bootleg CD-Rs were seized by the Homewood, Alabama Police
Department from a local music retail store. The seizure is the result of an
investigation initiated by the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit responding to complaints
from various sources that the location was engaged in the sale of possibly infringing
concert recordings of the Dave Matthews Band and others. An arrest warrant is currently pending.
June 12, 2002 - Millville, NJ
Ervin Daniels of Millville, NJ was entered into a pre-trial intervention
program. Court ordered supervision will continue
for a 12 month period. The conviction is the end result of an arrest
carried out by the New Jersey State Police, during
which 459 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs were seized from Mr. Daniels, who
was a vendor at the Cowtown Flea Market.
June 12, 2002 - Philadelphia, PA
The Philadelphia Police Department and RIAA
Anti-Piracy Unit responded to complaints of individuals selling illicit
recordings and arrested four street vendors in the area of 52nd and Market
Street. A total of approximately 1400 alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs
and 34 alleged counterfeit and pirate cassettes were seized, including CD-Rs
of rap star Nelly's forthcoming album, Nellyville, weeks before its June 25th
release date.
June 12, 2002 - Cleveland, OH
Mousa Khalaf of Cleveland, Ohio pled guilty to
misdemeanor music piracy charges and was sentenced to one-year probation.
The sentencing is the result of a September 2001 arrest in which 800
counterfeit Arabic CD-Rs were seized from Mr. Khalf's retail store.
June 12, 2002 - Los Angeles, CA
Following a two month investigation, the Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriffs from the North
Surveillance and Apprehension Team (NORSAT), with assistance from members of the RIAA Anti-Piracy
Unit, executed search warrants at three residential locations in San Gabriel and Los
Angeles, California. Residences at both locations were being used to burn and
complete the manufacture of unauthorized CD-Rs for distribution in the Santee
Alley area of Los Angeles. The warrants resulted in the arrest of three
suspects, all charged with Failure to Disclose the Origin of a Recording. The
warrants resulted in the seizure of approximately 37,500 alleged piratical
compact discs and 38 CD-R burners. The following artists were among those
whose work was being counterfeited: Vicente Fernandez, Los Tigres Del Norte,
Paulina Rubio, Selena, Olga Tanon and Jaguares.
June 16, 2002 - Killeen, TX
An anonymous lead led members of the Killeen, Texas
Police Department and the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit to a music retail store that
doubled as an illicit CD manufacturing facility. A search warrant was
subsequently obtained and a search of the retail location revealed CD-R
manufacturing equipment and materials. During the search, the following items
were seized: 1,228 alleged pirate CD-Rs, two color printers, one shrink-wrap
machine and one computer with two 24-speed CD-R burners. If the burners were
operated eight hours a day, six days a week as indicated by store hours, the
factory would be capable of producing 99,840 CD-Rs per year for a potential
loss to the music industry of approximately $1.5 million per year. No arrests
were made at the scene and charges are currently pending against the
storeowner.
The next day, the Killeen Police Department and the RIAA Anti-Piracy joined
forces again to execute a search warrant at another local retail store
suspected of manufacturing and selling CD-Rs. The following items were
seized: 5,469 alleged pirate CD-Rs, one color printer, one scanner, one
shrink-wrap machine and three computers with four 24-speed burners. If the
four burners were operated during store hours (eight hours a day, six days a
week) they would be capable of producing approximately 200,000 CD-Rs a year
for a potential annual loss of $3 million to the music industry. Texas True
Name and Address charges are pending against the owner of the store and will
be filed at a later date.
June 18, 2002 - Spartanburg, SC
The Spartanburg, South Carolina Public Safety Department and the RIAA
Anti-Piracy Unit coordinated their efforts to execute two search and
seizure warrants at two local business locations both operated by the
same individual. The retail stores were believed to be selling piratical
sound recordings alongside its legitimate product. 255 alleged pirate
CD-Rs, one computer and one printer were seized from the two stores. The
suspect product sold for as much as $20 a piece and contained music from
top-selling artists such as Metallica and Pink. The store owner was
arrested and charged with music piracy violations.
Later the same day, the two enforcement agencies conducted an additional
search warrant was executed at a retail establishment on Union Street.
A count of product and equipment seized included approximately 2,949 alleged
pirate CD-Rs, seven computer towers all with CD burners, three laptop computers,
five printers, five VCRs, two scanners and one stand-alone CD-R writer.
One suspect was arrested and charged with trademark violations and distributing illegal
recordings.
June 19, 2002 - Camden, NJ
The Camden, New Jersey Police Department, in conjunction with the RIAA
Anti-Piracy Unit, conducted a street sweep of the greater Camden area
in response to a client lead concerning the pre-release sales of Nelly's
Nellyville album. Five vendors were arrested and charged with violation
of the New Jersey Anti-Piracy Act. Artist recordings seized included
those from Nelly, Blu Cantrell, Gladys Knight, Jaheim, Destiny's Child,
Jay-Z and 3LW. A total of 1,610 alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs
and 123 alleged cassettes were seized.
June 19, 2002 - Pitt County, NC
The Pitt County Sheriff Office, assisted by
investigators from the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit, conducted a seizure operation at
an Ayden, North Carolina flea market. A total of four individuals were cited
and charged with the possession of unauthorized sound recordings. A total of
2,943 alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs were seized from the four vendors.
An additional 1,447 alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs were seized from five
abandoned booths. In an effort to help deter future infringements at the
location, the flea market manager was given an oral C&D and provided with
training regarding the identification of illicit sound recordings.
June 21, 2002 - Philadelphia, PA
Kamara Mohamed was sentenced in a Philadelphia, PA courtroom to two years
reporting probation. 308 pirate and counterfeit sound recordings of artists
including Michael Jackson, Foxy Brown, Samantha Mumba, Destiny's Child,
Mary J. Blige and Ludacris were seized from Mr. Mohamed during a January
arrest.
June 22, 2002 - Charleston, WV
The West Virginia State Police and the RIAA
Anti-Piracy Unit made attempts to crack down on local music piracy by
conducting raids at three different locations in West Virginia. After a
survey revealed that possibly unauthorized recordings were being sold at a
Charleston, WV flea market, authorities seized 622 alleged counterfeit CD-Rs
from an individual who was selling recordings of artists such as Faith Hill,
Shania Twain, the Eagles and the Grateful Dead for $5.
Information gathered at the scene led investigators to a Milton, WV flea
market where they witnessed an individual selling a large number of suspect
copies of Now That's What I Call Music 9, the O Brother, Where Art Thou
Soundtrack and titles from Kenny Chesney, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aaron Carter, and
the Outlaws. 167 alleged counterfeit CD-Rs were seized from the suspect. The
vendors at both flea markets were put on warning for their actions and handed
a cease and desist notice by RIAA Anti-Piracy investigators.
The same day, the West Virginia State Police and the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit
visited a Charleston, WV retail store. The location, which specializes in the
sale of Rap and Urban recordings, was reportedly selling counterfeit and
pirate compact discs. Authorities seized a total of 281 alleged pirate CD-Rs.
The unauthorized compilation discs included tracks from artists such as
Ashanti, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Angie Stone, Raphael Saadiq, Tweet,
Musiq, Donell Jones and Brandy. The two storeowners were handed a cease and
desist notice by RIAA Anti-Piracy investigators.
June 22, 2002 - Berlin, NJ
Members of the Berlin Borough Police Department and the RIAA Anti-Piracy
Unit conducted a raid at a Berlin, NJ flea market. The RIAA had received
complaints of vendors selling counterfeit and pirate sound recording at the
market. Three vendors were arrested and charged with violation of New Jersey's
Anti-Piracy Act. A total of 1,493 alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs and
55 alleged counterfeit cassettes were seized from the three individuals.
June 24, 2002 - Atlanta, GA
An Atlanta, Georgia man was arrested by the Atlanta
Police Department for suspicion of manufacturing unauthorized sound
recordings. The search warrant netted a total of 638 alleged counterfeit
CD-Rs, 212 alleged pirate CD-Rs, 25 CD-R burners, two computers and one color
copier were seized during the execution of the search warrant. Releases from
Brandy, Usher, Luther Vandross and Destiny's Child were among the duplicated
artist recordings found at the scene. The suspect was charged with the
unauthorized duplication of a sound recording.
June 24, 2002 - Chicago, IL
Eddie Perkins of Chicago, IL pled guilty to the Unlawful Use of Unidentified
Sound or Audio-Visual Recording and received 18 months felony probation and
three days in the Sheriff's Alternative Work Program (SAP). As part of SAP,
Mr. Perkins will be performing community service, such as picking up trash
along highways. The conviction is the result of a January arrest in which
50 counterfeit CD-Rs were seized.
June 26, 2002 - Detroit, MI
In a Detroit, Michigan courtroom, Rahman Baith pled guilty to True Name and
Address charges and received one year felony probation. The sentencing stems
from a March arrest in which 934 pirate CD-Rs were seized by authorities.
June 26, 2002 - Philadelphia, PA
Humberto Berris of Philadelphia, PA was found guilty of deceptive business
practices and sentenced to one year reporting probation. He was originally
arrested in October 2001 for selling counterfeit sound recordings on North Front
Street. A total of 299 illicit recordings were seized in the effort.
June 26, 2002 - New York, NY
A search warrant was executed by the MTS Precinct of the NYPD with
assistance from members of the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit at a suspected
illicit CD-R distributor located on West 31st Street in New York City.
The warrant resulted in one arrest and the seizure of 15,400 alleged
unauthorized sound recordings.
June 28, 2002 - Fayetteville, NC
The Fayetteville, North Carolina Police Department and the RIAA Anti-Piracy
joined forces in an effort to stop the sale of illicit CD-Rs and cassettes
at local flea markets. Two Fayetteville flea markets were raided and
authorities seized a total of 1,166 alleged pirate and counterfeit CD-Rs
and 781 alleged pirate and counterfeit cassettes were seized from
three vendors. Two suspects were arrested and charged with True Name and
Address violations. Continuing the operation, the next day, the Raleigh
Police Department, assisted by the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit, seized 5,044 alleged
counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs from six abandoned booths at an area flea
market.
June 29, 2002 - Washington, DC
Two vendors were arrested on 14th and V Street in Washington, D.C.
Investigators from the Environmental Crimes Unit and the RIAA Anti-Piracy
Unit conducted a covert operation of an open market vending stand selling
suspect compact discs. Two suspects were arrested and 1,006 alleged
unauthorized CD-Rs were seized. Both individuals were charged
with Trademark Counterfeiting and True Name and Address violations.
June 30, 2002 - Dothan, AL
The Alabama Bureau of Investigations and the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit raided a
Dothan, Alabama flea market. A total of 995 alleged counterfeit and pirate
CD-Rs were seized in plain view from four vendors. No arrests were made at the
scene, as charges are currently pending.
June 30, 2002 - Hartford, CT
The Hartford, Connecticut Police Department, assisted by the RIAA
Anti-Piracy Unit, conducted enforcement at an area flea market. Six
individuals were arrested and 7,631 alleged unauthorized sound recordings
were seized.
June 2002 - Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic's National Copyright Office (ONDA)
conducted 12 music related operations with a total of 2,043 alleged counterfeit
and pirate CD-Rs seized and charges pending against two individuals.