Grand Prairie, Texas Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Copyright Infringement
Defendant Sold Counterfeit DVDs on Craigslist

FORT WORTH, TX—Jose Luis Gonzalez, of Grand Prairie, Texas, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge John McBryde to one count of copyright infringement, announced acting U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Gonzalez, 32, who is on personal recognizance bond, faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and restitution. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge McBryde on August 14, 2009.

According to documents filed in the case, on April 22, 2008, FBI agents visited the Gonzalez residence, based on a lead from the Sacramento, California, FBI office. The lead concerned a target at the Gonzalez residence who was offering to sell DVD movies at a price well below the retail purchase price for DVD movies. Gonzalez was offering to sell numerous movies via the Internet, using a “Craigslist” account to interact with potential customers.

Gonzalez allowed the agents to search his computer and agents discovered copyrighted movies for sale.  Gonzales admitted that he knowingly possessed, reproduced, distributed, and sold these copyrighted movies for his own financial gain, knowing that it was against the law to copy and sell the movies. He further admitted that he sold at least 10 copies of copyrighted works during a 180-day period, having a total value of more than $2500.

A forensic exam of his computer, external storage media, and residence yielded 4813 counterfeit DVD movies, 3889 blank DVDs and 378 original DVD movies.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex C. Lewis.

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