Post by Tony on Feb 27, 2006 0:58:05 GMT
Scottish benefit fraudster locked up for £18,000-a-week piracy scam : 22:2:2006
UK record industry association the BPI has welcomed a 9-month prison sentence handed down today to Mr George Malone, 46, at Airdrie Sheriff Court in Scotland.
Delivering sentence Sheriff Brown said; "These were very serious offences, and as such they carry up to a 10 year penalty. In the Sheriff's opinion, this was being run as a business." He also ordered full forfeiture of pirated product plus computers and other duplication equipment.
The court heard that Malone had been running the scam for three years, and that he was supplementing his income claiming benefits illegally while also running a sun-tanning business. On his arrest, counterfeit product with a market value of £18,000 was seized.
BPI Director of Anti-Piracy David Martin said: "It's impossible to know exactly how much Mr Malone made during the operation. But given the rapid turnover of counterfeit stock in these cases, it's not unreasonable to assume that at its peak, this illicit business was turning over tens of thousands of pounds a week."
"It will sicken honest hard working people to learn that counterfeiters are illegally claiming benefits while engaged in such a profitable criminal enterprise. Once again we urge consumers not to line the pockets of these people."
Mr Malone was initially reported in 2003 after a 12 month multi-agency investigation involving North Lanarkshire Trading Standards Special Projects Unit, UK record industry trade association the BPI, The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), games industry trade body ELSPA and Strathclyde Police.
The court heard that Mr Malone's case was unusual in that he ran a phone-order business supplying industrial units across the west of Scotland with fakes on demand.
The BPI first became aware of Malone's activities in 2002 but he strengthened the case against himself when he unwittingly posted a leaflet advertising his services through the door of one of the enforcement agencies' offices.
BPI Director of Anti-Piracy David Martin added: "Commercial music piracy is a growing problem, and sadly not all criminals are stupid enough to alert the authorities to their activities like this. But by working with our colleagues in the film and software industry as well as Trading Standards and police, we have a growing team of investigators working to fight the counterfeiters."
"The authorities are also increasingly willing to take on the problem because of the proven links between music piracy, benefit fraud and organised crime."
www.bpi.co.uk/news/apu/news_content_file_979.shtml
UK record industry association the BPI has welcomed a 9-month prison sentence handed down today to Mr George Malone, 46, at Airdrie Sheriff Court in Scotland.
Delivering sentence Sheriff Brown said; "These were very serious offences, and as such they carry up to a 10 year penalty. In the Sheriff's opinion, this was being run as a business." He also ordered full forfeiture of pirated product plus computers and other duplication equipment.
The court heard that Malone had been running the scam for three years, and that he was supplementing his income claiming benefits illegally while also running a sun-tanning business. On his arrest, counterfeit product with a market value of £18,000 was seized.
BPI Director of Anti-Piracy David Martin said: "It's impossible to know exactly how much Mr Malone made during the operation. But given the rapid turnover of counterfeit stock in these cases, it's not unreasonable to assume that at its peak, this illicit business was turning over tens of thousands of pounds a week."
"It will sicken honest hard working people to learn that counterfeiters are illegally claiming benefits while engaged in such a profitable criminal enterprise. Once again we urge consumers not to line the pockets of these people."
Mr Malone was initially reported in 2003 after a 12 month multi-agency investigation involving North Lanarkshire Trading Standards Special Projects Unit, UK record industry trade association the BPI, The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), games industry trade body ELSPA and Strathclyde Police.
The court heard that Mr Malone's case was unusual in that he ran a phone-order business supplying industrial units across the west of Scotland with fakes on demand.
The BPI first became aware of Malone's activities in 2002 but he strengthened the case against himself when he unwittingly posted a leaflet advertising his services through the door of one of the enforcement agencies' offices.
BPI Director of Anti-Piracy David Martin added: "Commercial music piracy is a growing problem, and sadly not all criminals are stupid enough to alert the authorities to their activities like this. But by working with our colleagues in the film and software industry as well as Trading Standards and police, we have a growing team of investigators working to fight the counterfeiters."
"The authorities are also increasingly willing to take on the problem because of the proven links between music piracy, benefit fraud and organised crime."
www.bpi.co.uk/news/apu/news_content_file_979.shtml
