FORMER MILFORD MAN CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT
BOSTON, Mass. - A former Milford man, now residing in Los Angeles, was charged today in an information with conspiracy to commit copyright infringement.
BRENDAN DEBEASI, 21, is alleged to have worked for the website SurftheChannel.com (STC) from approximately November 2007 through June 2008. STC allowed viewers to watch unauthorized videos of copyrighted movies that were currently or had been in theaters. STC also allowed viewers to watch older movies and popular television shoes, most of which were copyrighted. Launched in approximately August 2007, STC rose to become among the most visited sites on the Internet at the time. DEBEASI allegedly provided programming and other computer support management to the site.
If convicted on these charges, DEBEASI faces up to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Bookbinder and Amy Harman Burkart of Ortiz’s Computer Crimes Unit.
The details contained in the indictment and complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
