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Deputies crack down on DVD pirates

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By LISA A. DAVIS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 20, 2009

Consumers can have a lot of extra money for popcorn and soda when they pay only $5 for a newly released movie on DVD, not to mention the luxury of watching it with their feet up on their own couch.

The problem is, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff's officials, the DVD is illegal.

On Monday Hillsborough deputies launched Operation Picture Perfect, cracking down on movie counterfeiters who set up curbside, in parking lots and in flea markets. The operation netted six arrests and about 1,500 DVD copies of newly released movies. The operation was completed Saturday but deputies vow they'll continue cracking down on film pirates.

It can take as little as a day after a movie is released in the theaters for counterfeiters to hit the streets selling the illegal DVD copy, said Sgt. Chad ChronisterÖ .

Among the titles collected Saturday were "The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3," Disney's "Up" and "The Hangover," Chronister said.

One street vendor had his laptop set up, wireless Internet up and running and was making DVDs to order on site, he said. Most of the counterfeiters find the movies online and burn copies. They usually skip making fancy covers and are even too lazy to write out the full titles on the DVDs, Chronister said.

"Most of the time it's just the cheapest DVD," he said. "They might have 25 cents invested in them."

Six deputies were involved in the in the operation working in the northern county, including the Florida and International flea markets.

Undercover detectives bought DVDs, then brought them back to an Motion Picture Association of America officials who deemed they counterfeit then uniformed deputies made the arrests.

Arrested on Saturday were: Ilio Titi , 28, of 11310 Sunshine Court, Tampa; Monica McLaughlin, 26, of 5533 110th Ave. North #P205; Rashad Orr, 29, 5316 Patrick Estate Way, Plant City; and Harvey Stevens Jr., 32, of 2618 12TH Ave, Tampa;

Arrested on Monday were: JustonÖ CapheartÖ , of 2450 Hillsborough Ave. No. 1424, Tampa; and ArnayeÖ Washington, 20, of 2618 12th Ave., Tampa.

Each faces a third-degree felony charge of unauthorized copying of film.

Stevens and Washington are repeat offenders, Chronister said.

According to the Motion Picture Association of America's Web site, the industry loses billions of dollars each year to piracy. In 2005, the worldwide motion picture industry, including foreign and domestic producers, distributors, theaters, video stores and pay-per-view operators lost $18.2 billion.

"I'm sure we all, like in any business, absorb the loss," Chronister said.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083.

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