Nine indicted in black market ring
August 24, 2003 at 4:14 PM ET
James
iharrypotter.net (via Pacific Business News)
A reported sum
of 9,000 illegally recorded and distributed items were found following the conviction of the nine people involved.
The defendants were charged for alleged conspiracy to copy and distribute copyrighted movies and video games; distribution of counterfeited movies and video games; and illegally modifying Sony PlayStation and Microsoft X-Box games consoles to play pirated video games. Two defendants were also charged with Food Stamp Program fraud.
Charles Goodwin, special agent in charge of the Honolulu FBI, says the estimated value of the thousands of pirated movies and games is more than $500,000 and is the largest case to be investigated according to the Motion Picture Association of America.
...Some of the copyrighted movies involved include "Lilo & Stitch," "Harry Potter," "Spiderman," "Star Wars 2," "Scorpion King," "Men in Black 2," "Black Hawk Down" and "Lord of the Rings."