May 1, 2002 - New York, NY
The NYPD's OCID Unit, assisted by the RIAA
Anti-Piracy Unit, executed a search warrant on the 4th floor of a Manhattan
building, which authorities believe served as a distribution point for
unauthorized sound recordings. Three individuals were arrested and 14,458
alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs were seized. Releases from Tweet,
Ashanti, Brandy, Avant and Shakira were among the recordings held at the
illicit distribution location.
May 2, 2002 - Pittsburgh, PA
Dave and Joseph Panasiuk, operators of two Dave's
Music Mine record stores in Pittsburgh, PA entered guilty pleas for the sale
of bootleg sound recordings that failed to display the true name and address
of the manufacturer. The two men will be sentenced to one-year probation and
ordered to pay $100.00 restitution to the RIAA.
The conviction stems from search warrants executed at both store locations on
November 16, 2001. The stores were selling bootlegs of bands such as the Dave
Matthews Band for as high as $50. A total of 134 bootleg CD-Rs and one CD-R
burner were seized from the two stores.
May 2, 2002 - Las Vegas, NV
Justice was served, as Ali Moghadam and his wife
Katia were convicted of music piracy and tax evasion violations in a Las Vegas
courtroom. Aside from selling bootleg sound recordings to various stores in
Nevada and California, the couple also failed to report income to the IRS.
Mr. Moghadam was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison and 6 months and one
day home confinement, and his wife received three years probation. Both were
ordered jointly liable for over $64,000 in taxes.
May 3, 2002 - Los Angeles, CA
Teofilo Carrera of Los Angeles, CA pled guilty to
Failure to Disclose the Origin of a Recording and was sentenced to 3 years
probation and ordered to pay $8,000 in restitution to the RIAA. Mr. Carrera
operated a retail establishment in Los Angeles that distributed unauthorized
sound recordings. In August of last year, authorities seized a total of
38,412 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs, one 16-speed CD-R burner, an air
compressor and a shrink-wrap machine from subject's store and warehouse
location.
May 3, 2002 - Los Angeles, CA
RIAA and Fonovisa representatives conducted
voluntary surrender actions in the MacArthur Park area of California along
Alvarado Street and inside the Santee Alley area between 11th and 12th
Streets. A total of 13 vendors were issued C&D notices and over 4,200 alleged
pirate compact discs were recovered. In addition, a store manager and a
storeowner, where one vendor was operating in the Santee Alley area were also
issued verbal C&D notices. Work is being done on the property owners of at
least two of the seizure locations.
Five days later, the two groups continued their efforts by carrying out
additional voluntary surrender actions along South Alvarado and South Santee
Street. 10 individuals were handed written C&D notices and a total of 3,410
alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs were seized.
May 3, 2002 - El Paso, TX
Members of the El Paso Police Department and the RIAA
Anti-Piracy Unit executed a search warrant at an El Paso, TX retail store.
Seized from the location were 3,412 alleged pirate CD-Rs, two computers and
two 8-speed CD-R burners. It is estimated that if the burners were in
operation during store hours, 8 hours per day, 6 days a week, they were
capable of producing approximately 30,000 CD-Rs a year for a potential yearly
loss to the industry of approximately $450,000. Recordings that were copied
and sold at the location included those from Janet Jackson, Mystikal, 2Pac and
Vicente Fernandez. The owner of the store was arrested at the scene and
charged with violating Texas' True Name and Address statute.
May 8, 2002 - New York, NY
Members of the NYPD's 19th Precinct, assisted by
the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit, executed a search warrant at an
apartment complex on Broadway, which resulted in the arrest of one individual
and the seizure of 9,300 alleged counterfeit CD-Rs. The subject was charged
with Trademark Counterfeiting and Failure to Disclose the Origin of a
Recording. Confiscated from the distribution location were recordings by Marc
Anthony, Avant, Glenn Lewis, Tweet and Brandy.
May 9, 2002 - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) arrested an
individual at his Rancho Cucamonga, CA home, charged with the illegal
manufacture and distribution of sound recordings. A search warrant executed
by the CHP and RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit at the suspect's residence revealed CD
manufacturing equipment and finished product. 1,326 alleged counterfeit and
pirate CD-Rs, 101 masters, three computers, one 8-speed CD-R burner, one
computer and one printer were confiscated from the location. The suspect
currently owes approximately $10,000 in restitution to the RIAA, which stems
from an April 2000 conviction for similar music piracy violations.
May 10, 2002 - Los Angeles, CA
Melvin Norris was sentenced to one day in county jail
and 24 months summary probation, fined $150 and ordered to pay $100
restitution to the RIAA. Mr. Norris was arrested in March for selling illicit
sound recordings on the corner of Manchester and Normandie Avenue in Los
Angeles, CA. The enforcement action netted 260 counterfeit CD-Rs.
May 15, 2002 - New York, NY
The NYPD and the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit executed
search warrants on the 5th floor of a Broadway building. The enforcement
action resulted in three arrests and the seizure of 41,850 alleged counterfeit
CD-Rs. Found at the scene were recordings from Eminem, P. Diddy, Marc
Anthony, Brandy, Fat Joe, Luis Miguel, Enrique Iglesias and Will Downing. All
three suspects were charged with Trademark Counterfeiting and Failure to
Disclose the Origin of a Recording.
May 15 & 16, 2002 - Indio, CA; Torrance, CA
The RIAA and Fonovisa representatives executed a
series of voluntary surrender actions at two flea markets in Indio, CA and
Torrance, CA. 11 vendors were issued notices and 3,637 alleged illicit sound
recordings were recovered from both locations. Artist recordings seized
included works from top-selling acts such as Thalia and Shaggy.
May 16, 2002 - Philadelphia, PA
Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department's
35th District arrested an individual selling possibly infringing sound
recordings on the corner of Stenton Avenue and Gratz Street in Philadelphia,
PA. In plain view of the officers were suspect titles from artists such as 2
Pac, Case, the Isley Brothers, Snoop Dogg, and Glenn Lewis. A total of 2,080
alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs were seized. The vendor was arrested and
charged with Trademark Counterfeiting and the Unauthorized Transfer of Sounds
on Recording Devices.
May 16, 2002 - Philadelphia, Pa
Kane Barrault pled guilty to Trademark
Counterfeiting and Theft by Deception in a Philadelphia, PA courtroom. He was
sentenced to four years probation (two reporting) and restitution in the
amount of $250 payable to the RIAA. The conviction is the end result of an
arrested effected by the Philadelphia Police Department's Major Crimes Unit in
December 2001. Mr. Barrault was arrested for selling counterfeit CD-Rs inside
an Ace Check Cashing establishment. 202 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs and 38
counterfeit and pirate cassettes were seized in the enforcement action.
May 16, 2002 - Philadelphia, PA
The Philadelphia Police Department's Major Crimes
Unit arrested a vendor located on the 3000 block of Reed Street in South
Philadelphia, PA. Among the 172 alleged unauthorized cassettes and 333
alleged unauthorized CD-Rs were copies of Eminem's The Eminem Show, which the
vendor was selling weeks before its May 28th release. The suspect was
subsequently arrested and charged with Trademark Counterfeiting and the
Unauthorized Transfer of Sounds on Recording Devices.
May 16, 2002 - New York, NY
The 040 Precinct of the NYPD, in conjunction with
the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit, executed six search warrants at a storage facility
in Manhattan, which served as a distribution location of illicit sound
recordings. Seven individuals were arrested and charged with trademark
violations. Of the approximately 9,000 alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs
seized, 90% were Urban Contemporary and 10% were Latin. Among the artist
recordings confiscated were those from Ashanti, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Busta
Rhymes, Alicia Keys, Charlie Zaa and Luis Miguel.
May 17, 2002 - Point Pleasant, NJ
The Point Pleasant Beach Police Department in New
Jersey arrested a man located on Route 35 South for selling unauthorized sound
recordings. The vendor unknowingly solicited an illicit sound recording for
$5 to an off-duty officer. The defendant was taken into custody and a total
of 577 alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs were seized. Investigators from
the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit examined the seized items, and the vendor was
subsequently charged with violation of the New Jersey Anti-Piracy Act.
May 20, 2002 - Baltimore, MD
Allen Montague-Bey was found guilty on two counts of
Counterfeit Trademarking and was given a nine month suspended sentence with
all but the first weekend suspended. Additionally, he was placed on one year
supervised probation and must complete 30 hours of community service. The
Baltimore, MD resident was arrested back in April 20, for selling counterfeit
CD-Rs and cassettes.
May 20, 2002 - Philadelphia, PA
David Rosario of Philadelphia, PA was sentenced to
eleven to twenty-three months incarceration on the charge of trademark
counterfeiting and theft. The sentences run concurrently, and the defendant
was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution to the RIAA. In October of last
year, the Philadelphia Police Department seized 339 counterfeit CD-Rs from
Rosario, who was selling them at a stand on Rising Sun Avenue.
May 21, 2002 - Baltimore, MD
Antonio Jones of Baltimore, MD was found guilty of
one count of True Name and Address violations. He received a six month
suspended sentence; one year supervised probation and is required to perform
50 hours of community service. The sentencing stems from a March arrest in
which Mr. Jones was arrested by the Baltimore Police Department for selling
counterfeit CD-Rs on the 5600 block of the Alameda. 94 counterfeit CD-Rs were
seized in the enforcement effort.
May 21, 2002 - New York, NY
The NYPD executed search warrants at a West 29th
Street address with assistance from the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit. The
enforcement effort resulted in nine arrests and the seizure of 56,200 alleged
counterfeit CD-Rs. Recordings from Urban Contemporary artists such as Brandy,
Tweet, TLC, Lauryn Hill, Jay Z., P. Diddy, Eminem and Mary J. Blige were
confiscated at the scene. The nine subjects arrested were charged with
Trademark Counterfeiting and Failure to Disclose the Origin of a Recording.
May 21, 2002 - Jackson, MS
A Jackson, Mississippi man was arrested by the
Rankin County, Mississippi Sheriff's Department. While investigating a
separate case, authorities questioned the subject, who admitted to copying and
selling music. In addition, police observed a large number of sound
recordings in the subject's vehicle. A subsequent search warrant netted a
total of 793 alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs. Among the product seized
were compilation CD-Rs that included tracks from Usher, Mary J. Blige,
Jennifer Lopez, Sisqo, Jagged Edge and Mystikal.
May 22, 2002 - Dallas, TX
Members of the Dallas Police Department,
representatives from the Arabic music industry and the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit
executed a search warrant at a grocery store in Dallas, TX. The store had
been identified as a possible seller of illicit Arabic music, and enforcement
action was conducted after warning letters from the RIAA were ignored. 1,602
alleged counterfeit CD-Rs and 1,114 alleged counterfeit cassettes were seized
during the raid. No arrests were made at the scene, although True Name and
Address charges are pending against the storeowner.
May 22, 2002 - New York, NY
The NYPD's Queens Gang Unit, assisted by the RIAA
Anti-Piracy Unit, executed a search warrant at a Manhattan distribution
location. Approximately 35,000 alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs of
artists such as Marc Anthony, Shakira, Brandy, Outkast and Jay Z were seized.
Eight individuals were arrested and charged with trademark violations.
May 23, 2002 - New York, NY
The 13th Precinct of the NYPD, in conjunction with
the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit, executed two search warrants at two distribution
locations in Manhattan. Approximately 25,350 alleged counterfeit and pirate
CD-Rs were seized. Among the artist recordings recovered were releases from
Eminem, Glenn Lewis, Avant, Marc Anthony, Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, Michael
Jackson, Brandy and Celine Dion. One individual was arrested and charged with
trademark violations.
May 24, 2002 - Miami-Dade, Broward Counties, FL
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and
the U.S. Marshal's Task Force made up of the Hialeah Police Department, North
Miami Police Department and the Department of Immigration and Naturalization
detained and arrested the owner of a music retail chain. The chain consisted
of five locations in Miami-Dade and Broward counties that sold suspect sound
recordings. Throughout the investigation, more than 10,000 alleged
counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs were seized from the various locations. The
storeowner was charged with the unauthorized duplication of sound recordings
under Florida's True Name and Address statute.
May 25, 2002 - Mebane, NC
The North Carolina Secretary of State, assisted by
the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit, raided a Mebane, NC flea market. A total of 6,933
alleged counterfeit CD-Rs and 280 counterfeit cassettes were seized from 13
vendor booths. Four suspects were arrested at the scene and charges are
currently pending against all four individuals.
May 26, 2002 - Washington, DC
Investigators from the DC Metro Police, Environmental
Crimes Unit and the RIAA conducted enforcement action against an open market
vending stand selling illicit compact discs. A total of 2,074 alleged
counterfeit recordings were seized from two men located on the corner of
Southern Avenue and South Capitol Street. The two suspects were arrested and
charged with Commercial Counterfeiting, Trademark Counterfeiting, Deceptive
Labeling, and Commercial Piracy.
May 26, 2002 - Baltimore, MD
A vendor located at the 1500 block of Pennsylvania
Avenue in Baltimore, MD was arrested for the sale of alleged counterfeit sound
recordings. 4,166 alleged counterfeit recordings were seized from the
individual, who was charged with seven counts of Trademark Counterfeiting and
four counts of True Name and Address violations.
May 30, 2002 - Baltimore, MD
Phillip Williams was found guilty in a Baltimore,
MD court on ten counts of counterfeit trademarking and five counts of
unauthorized sale. 84 counterfeit CD-Rs were confiscated from the street
vendor during a March arrest by the Baltimore City Police Department. Mr.
Williams received a six month suspended sentence, one year supervised
probation and 90 hours community service.
May 2002 - Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic's National Copyright Office (ONDA)
and the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit conducted 7 music related operations with 980
alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs seized and charges pending against one
individual.