FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2005

D.A. BROWN: QUEENS MAN CHARGED IN DVD/CABLE PIRACY SCHEME
Hundreds of Counterfeit DVDs – Including Episodes of “The Sopranos" and "Six Feet Under" – And Manufacturing Equipment Seized From Long Island City Apartment Used as Illegal Duplicating Mill

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown today announced that a bouncer at several New York City strip clubs has been arrested on trademark counterfeiting charges and that hundreds of counterfeit DVDs containing episodes of popular HBO and Warner Brothers cable television programs have been seized from his Long Island City apartment, which was allegedly being used as an underground DVD duplicating factory.

District Attorney Brown said, “A one-man counterfeiting operation like the one discovered here is capable each year of fleecing legitimate owners of trademark products out of tens of thousands of dollars, substantial sums in lost royalties and ripping off honest consumers who are forced to pay higher prices for their viewing entertainment. In addition, it deprives the City and State of much needed tax revenues. My Office will continue to work with the Police Department and the television and movie industries to close down these illegal operations and prosecute those involved to the full extent of the law.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Michael C. Peranio, 32, of 32-64 45 Street in Long Island City. He was arraigned today on a charge of Trademark Counterfeiting in the Second Degree before Queens Criminal Court Judge Lenora Gerald who set bail at $5,000 and a return date of October 21, 2005. If convicted he faces up to four years in prison.

The District Attorney said that New York City Police Department detectives assigned to the Computer Crimes Squad yesterday executed a court-authorized search warrant at the alleged factory at 32-64 45th Street in Long Island City, Queens. The defendant, who arrived at the premises during the raid, was taken into custody at that time.

District Attorney Brown said that the search warrant was obtained by his Computer Crime Unit and was based upon information obtained to the effect that the defendant was using the Internet to sell counterfeit recordings of popular television shows.

According to the District Attorney, detectives conducted a search of the apartment and recovered approximately 500 DVD recordings of the “The Sopranos” and “Six Feet Under,” more than 160 blank DVDs, eight VCRs, two DVD recorders, 2 desktop computers and one laptop computer. Also recovered were packing and shipping material, bank account records and other paper records.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Jeannie Finucane, of the New York City Police Department’s Computer Crimes Squad, which is under the supervision of Lieutenant John Otero and the overall supervision of Captain Gregory Antonsen, the Commanding Officer of the NYPD’s ID Task Force.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Robert D. Alexander, Unit Chief of the District Attorney’s Computer Crime Unit of the Special Proceedings Bureau under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Anthony Communiello, Chief of the Special Proceedings Bureau, and Deputy Chief Oscar W. Ruiz, and the overall supervision of Executive District Attorney for Investigations Peter A. Crusco and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Linda M. Cantoni.

It should be noted that criminal charges are merely an accusation and that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.