Washington, DC - A year-long undercover operation conducted by United States Customs Agents, with the assistance of the Recording Industry Association of America, culminated on March 27, with a 40-count indictment charging 13 individuals for allegedly conspiring to manufacture, import and distribute bootleg CDs. The alleged bootleggers were operating in 12 foreign countries, as well as the United States. Many of the 13 indicted are among the most notorious international bootleg manufacturers and distributors, according to the RIAA. Of those foreign nationals, five were indicted while in the United States allegedly conducting their illicit business affairs. In addition to the indictments, U.S. Customs announced that approximately 800,000 alleged bootleg recordings had been confiscated over the course of the investigation.

QUOTE: Frank Creighton, RIAA Vice President, Associate Director of Anti-Piracy

"This operation marks the largest criminal bootleg investigation of its kind -- both in terms of the number of individuals indicted and the transnational scope of their operations, as well as the sheer volume of bootlegs seized (80% of 1996's total bootleg confiscations). Without a doubt, the removal of so many major players will substantively and severely disrupt the global bootleg industry.

This incredibly successful blow to bootleggers was only possible with the exceptional efforts of Charles Wilson, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and Assistant U.S. Attorney A.B. Phillips, and at Customs, Regional Agent in Charge Joseph Henderson and Special Agent T.J. Nelson."

BACKGROUND:

Defendants: The defendants face maximum prison terms ranging from 5 to 35 years. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney A.B. Phillips of the Orlando Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office. Charged in the indictment are Jorge Garzon, Orlando, Florida; Hans Heimann, Wuppertal, Germany; Roger Moenks, Goch, Germany; Charles Leidelmeyer, Gravenhaag, the Netherlands; Mark Purseglove, London, England; Simone Romani, Milan, Italy; Scott Johnson, Long Island, New York; Simon Carne and Alfonso Degaetano, West Palm Beach, Florida; Ali Moghadam, Las Vegas, Nevada; Georgio Serra and Carolina Albanese, Republic of San Marino, Italy; Robert Pettersen, Los Angeles, California.

Product: The 800,000 confiscated alleged bootleg CDs included live performances of practically every top performer including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, the Dave Matthews Band, Tori Amos, Van Halen.

ABOUT THE RIAA: The RIAA represents companies that create, manufacture or distribute more than 90% of the legitimate sound recordings sold in the United States. The RIAA's Anti- Piracy Unit investigates the illegal production and distribution of pirated sound recordings, which cost the U.S. music industry hundreds of millions of dollars a year domestically. Consumers and retailers can report suspected music piracy to the RIAA by dialing a toll-free hotline, 1-800-BAD-BEAT or sending e-mail to badbeat@riaa.com.