September 3, 2002 - Philadelphia, PA
A vendor soliciting CDs for $5 approached plain-clothes officers of
the Philadelphia Police Department patrolling the 600 block of North Delaware
Avenue. The individual and his accomplice were taken into custody and 675
alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs were confiscated from their possession.
A sampling of seized recordings includes works from Keith Sweat, Cam'ron and
Amerie.
September 4, 2002 - Houston, TX
Members of the Houston Police Department's Asian Crime Task Force and
the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit executed search warrants at two retail locations in
Houston, Texas. 1,454 alleged pirate CD-Rs were seized from the two stores.
Additionally, members of the Westminster, California Police Department, seized
thousands of suspect karaoke DVDs. The raid was the result of an on-going
investigation of a counterfeit DVD manufacturing ring in California. Charges
against the owners of the stores are pending.
September 4, 2002 - Arlington, TX
While investigating complaints of music piracy in the vicinity of 1800
North Moore Street in Arlington County, the Virginia Police Department and
RIAA Anti-Piracy investigators observed a vendor engaged in the sale of
suspected counterfeit compact discs. 926 alleged counterfeit CD-Rs were
seized, and the suspect was placed under arrest and charged with four counts
of True Name and Address violations.
September 5, 2002 - LaGrange, GA
A Georgia man stopped for driving with an expired tag was found with
3,000 alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs in the bed of his pickup truck.
The traffic stop occurred in LaGrange, Georgia at the 21 mile marker of I-85
South. Officers of the Georgia State Police observed an open box of compact
discs in the vehicle, and a consent search revealed the unauthorized sound
recordings. The RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit was called upon to help identify the
illicit product, which included works from Kid Rock and Bob Marley.
September 5, 2002 - Berkeley, CA
Search warrants were served at a Berkeley, California store by the Berkeley
Police Department. RIAA Anti-Piracy investigators were tipped that the store
was selling illegal bootlegs of popular touring acts such as Phish, Led
Zeppelin and the Dave Matthews Band for prices ranging from $25 to $90 per
show. 1,600 alleged bootleg CDs and CD-Rs were seized and an arrest warrant
was issued for the storeowner.
September 5, 2002 - New York, NY
Members of the NYPD and RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit executed a search
warrant at a Bronx grocery store and arrested two individuals. Authorities
suspected that the East 149 Street location was serving as a distribution
point for unauthorized sound recordings. 600 alleged counterfeit CD-Rs were
seized. The case is currently pending in a Bronx criminal court.
September 7, 2002 - Philadelphia, PA
Responding to a radio call concerning an individual selling suspect
product at Jerry's Corner Flea Market, the 12th District of the Philadelphia
Police arrived at the scene and seized 257 alleged counterfeit and pirate
CD-Rs from a vendor. A sampling of artists included B2K, Mary J. Blige,
Eminem and Earth Wind & Fire. The suspect was arrested and charged with
unauthorized copying and trademark counterfeiting.
September 8, 2002 - Birmingham, AL
Responding to a member company lead, the detectives from the
Birmingham, Alabama Police Department and RIAA Anti-Piracy investigators paid
a visit to the Birmingham Heritage Festival in an effort to stop vendors
selling suspect sound recordings. One vendor was arrested and 2,072 alleged
counterfeit CD-Rs were seized, including recordings from Mary J. Blige and
Yolanda Adams.
September 8, 2002 - York County, PA
A vendor at the York County Fairgrounds in Pennsylvania was arrested
for manufacturing and selling CD-Rs. The compact discs were being burned on
the spot in the back of a nearby rental truck. The York County Police
Department seized 1,001 pirate CD-Rs, one scanner, one printer, one copier and
miscellaneous raw materials from the vehicle and vendor booth. The suspect
was charged with the unauthorized transfer of sound and deceptive business
practices.
September 8, 2002 - Los Angeles, CA
A vendor stationed on the 400 block of East 12th Street in Los
Angeles, CA voluntarily surrendered 520 alleged illicit CDs and CD-Rs to RIAA
Anti-Piracy investigators.
September 8, 2002 - Mansfield, CT
A Mansfield, Connecticut flea market was the target of seizure actions
by the Mansfield Police Department. One individual was arrested and 703
alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs were seized.
September 10, 2002 - Philadelphia, PA
While on patrol in the vicinity of 5600 N. Broad Street, the
Philadelphia Police Department observed a man selling suspicious compact
discs. 139 alleged pirate and counterfeit CD-Rs were seized and the suspect
arrested and charged with unauthorized copying and trademark counterfeiting.
The vendor was offering recordings of artists such as Irv Gotti, Trina, the
Whispers, Jay-Z.
September 11, 2002 - Camden, NJ
Members of the Camden, New Jersey Police Department and the RIAA
Anti-Piracy Unit conducted a raid of street vendors, concentrating their
efforts on vendor locations on South Broadway, State and Harrison Streets.
The enforcement action was in response to Bad Beat calls from local retailers
regarding vendors soliciting in the area.
The street sweep netted the seizure of 2,027 alleged counterfeit and pirate
CD-Rs. In addition, authorities impounded a van abandoned by fleeing suspects.
A total of six individuals were arrested and charged with music piracy
violations.
September, 12, 2002 - Grand Prairie, TX
Patrol officers with the Grand Prairie, Texas Police Department
arrested a street vendor for violation of Texas' True Name and Address
statute. The suspect was soliciting pirate and counterfeit CD-Rs on the 1700
block of S. Belt Line Road. Officers seized a total of 171 alleged illicit
sound recordings.
September 14, 2002 - Charlotte Hall, MD
Members of the St. Mary's County Sheriffs Office and representatives
of the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit conducted plain view seizures of counterfeit
compact discs being sold at the Charlotte Hall Flea Market located in Southern
Maryland. Five vendors were arrested and over 1,200 units were seized.
Further investigation revealed that one of the vendors arrested was likely
manufacturing at his residence. A search and seizure warrant obtained for the
suspect's residence and vehicle netted 450 units of finished product, one CD-R
tower with 5 burner positions, two color copiers, paper cutters and
miscellaneous packaging materials.
September 15, 2002 - Grand Prairie, TX
Members of the Grand Prairie Police Department were dispatched to
Trader's Village Flea Market in Grand Prairie, Texas. Upon arrival, they
found flea market security personnel detaining an individual for the sale of
pirated sound recordings on the premises. The officers seized 322 alleged
counterfeit CD-Rs and arrested the suspect for violation of Texas' True Name
and Address statute.
September 18, 2002 - Philadelphia, PA
The Philadelphia Police Department arrested a vendor at a cash
checking store on Monument Avenue. RIAA Anti-Piracy investigators had
identified the store as engaging in the sale of counterfeit sound recordings.
Authorities confiscated 407 alleged counterfeit CD-Rs and 160 alleged
counterfeit cassettes. The suspect was charged with trademark counterfeiting
and the unauthorized transfer of sounds.
September 19, 2002 - Philadelphia, PA
Ibrahim Samba of Philadelphia, PA pled guilty to deceptive business
practices and was sentenced to two years probation for the sale of illicit
sound recordings. The Philadelphia Police Department seized 158 counterfeit
and pirate CD-Rs from Mr. Samba in February of this year. Recordings from
artists such as 2Pac, DMX, Olivia and Toni Braxton were confiscated by
authorities during the enforcement action.
September 19, 2002 - Oklahoma City, OK
The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Department, assisted by members of the
RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit, executed two search warrants at an Oklahoma City music
and clothing store. Seized were 9,200 alleged pirate CD-Rs, 12 CD-R burners
and two cassette duplicating machines, as well as new mixing equipment that
was used to modify some of the piratical music. Artist recordings consisting
of Mary J. Blige, Jermaine Dupri, Bubba Sparxxx, Eminem, Alicia Keys, Too
Short, Nelly and NAS were represented. Charges against the store's owner are
pending.
September 22, 2002 - Atlantic City, NJ
During a street survey of the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, members of
the Atlantic City Police Department and the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit identified
several vendors selling suspect product. Despite facing possible crowd control
problems, authorities managed to arrest three vendors. All three individuals
were charged with violation of New Jersey's Anti-Piracy Act.
September 24, 2002 - Detroit, MI
The Detroit, Michigan Police Department carried out a plain view
seizure at a West Warren Avenue business location. The retail store had been
suspected of selling illicit compilation recordings. 903 alleged pirate CD-Rs
were seized from the retail store. The storeowner was arrested and charged
with state True Name and Address violations.
September 25, 2002 - Atlanta, GA
Based on numerous complaints of people being able to buy large
quantities of unauthorized CD-Rs at the Bankhead Flea Market in Atlanta, the
Atlanta Police Department, assisted by the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit, executed a
search warrant at the location. A total of 98,364 alleged counterfeit and
pirate CD-Rs were seized from one booth, which was a distribution point for a
manufacturing location. Discs were being sold for $1.50 each. One suspect was
arrested and charged with the criminal reproduction and sale of recorded
material.
September 25, 2002 - Philadelphia, PA
In a Philadelphia courtroom, Keith Munson pled guilty to Trademark
Counterfeiting and Unauthorized Transfer of Sounds. Munson was arrested by
the Philadelphia Police Department back in July for the sale of counterfeit
CD-Rs. A total of 31 counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs were confiscated. A
sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.
September 25, 2002 - Elsmere, DE
While investigating an overnight burglary at a local retail store, the
Elsmere, Delaware Police Department discovered piratical material on the
premises. A search warrant was later issued and with the assistance of RIAA
investigators, 711 alleged counterfeit and pirate CD-Rs were identified. Also
seized were a computer and an 8-speed CD-R burner. Charges are currently
pending.
September 26, 2002 - New York, NY
A search warrant was executed by 033 Precinct of the NYPD with the
assistance of members of the RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit, which resulted in one
arrest and seizure of 9,200 alleged unauthorized sound recordings. The West
172 Street location was supplying the vendors in the upper Manhattan area. The
following is a list of artists which were seized from the location: Jerry
Rivera, Cristian, Chayanne, Marco Antonio Solis, Conjunto Primavera, Manny
Manuel, Enrique Iglesias, Mana, Jennifer Pena, and Thalia.
September 26, 2002 - New York, NY
Two search warrants were executed on 165 Street and Jamaica Ave in the
borough of Queens by the 103rd Precinct of the NYPD. With assistance of RIAA
investigators, 24,680 suspect sound recordings were seized and five
individuals were arrested. The following artists recordings were found at the
scene: Nelly , Ja Rule, Mario, P.Diddy, Romeo, DMX, Brandy, Mary J. Blige.
All five subjects were charged with Trademark Counterfeiting and Failure to
Disclose the Origin of a Recording.