Software Piracy Conviction Sends Two to Jail

**Hairbautt** · 03-08-2008, 04:59 PM

"Two brothers were sentenced Friday to multiyear prison terms for selling what the U.S. Department of Justice called "massive" amounts of pirated software online, the DOJ announced."

"Maurice A. Robberson, 48, was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay US$855,917 restitution, while his brother Thomas K. Robberson, 55, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $151,488 restitution, in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

On Nov. 7, Maurice Robberson pled guilty to conspiracy and felony copyright infringement, while Thomas Robberson pled guilty to a single count of felony copyright infringement.

Thomas Robberson made more than $150,000 selling software with a retail value of nearly $1 million through Bestvalueshoppe.com and TheDealDepot.net, the DOJ said. Maurice Robberson grossed more than $855,000 selling software with a retail value of nearly $5.6 million through CDsalesUSA.com and AmericanSoftwareSales.com. Both men have agreed to forfeit all their proceeds from the businesses, the DOJ said."

Source: Full Article @ Yahoo! News

**peat moss** · 03-08-2008, 05:18 PM

I have a problem with " three years in prison and ordered to pay US$855,917 restitution "

How the fuck do you pay a fine when your in jail for three years and then have a hope in hell getting a job when you do get out ? Must be like the Canadian system were a life sentence is really like 2 years . Gee kill someone and you get a lesser sentence !

**Kyokushin** · 03-08-2008, 05:39 PM

While you are doing time, a friend or a family member can pay it for you if you give the authorization.

**killuminati96** · 03-08-2008, 09:15 PM

It's sad that pedophiles get lesser sentences (like nothing but probation and classes) than a copywrite violater. Even repeat pedos get off easy unless they really do someting so horribly bad the law can't avoid it.

**TheFoX** · 03-08-2008, 09:52 PM

Don't forget that this is not a simple case of sharing, but of someone/s profiting from ill gotten gains.

Like most criminals, they probably have savings pugged away in offshore accounts. If you look at the fines, they are being fined what they have physically deprived the retailers, plus a small amount on top.

$855,000 / $855,917 // Difference of $917

$150,000 / $151,488 // Difference of $1,488

So, their fines are what they earnt plus a small amount extra, and a prison sentence.

Now, take Jammie Thomas lawsuit ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jammie_Thomas ). She was fined a total of $222,000, even though she made no money from the music she shared.

How is it that a die hard bootlegger only gets a fine equivalent to the money he has made, yet a simple filesharer gets a fine way out of proportion to money she didn't make.

Makes you wonder about equality and the justice system, doesn't it.