Modesto Man Sentenced To Prison For Counterfeit Media Conspiracy

FRESNO, Calif. — Senior United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii sentenced Leonel Martinez Caballero, 31, of Modesto, today to four years in prison, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. Caballero pleaded guilty on November 25, 2013 to conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement and traffic in counterfeit labels and counterfeit documentation and packaging.

According to court documents, from April 2011 to July 25, 2011, Caballero was involved in an extensive scheme with others to store and distribute counterfeit DVD movies and audio CDs. Caballero managed a warehouse in Modesto that served as a distribution point for counterfeit music CDs and counterfeit movie DVDs. On July 25, 2011, the warehouse was found to contain over 100,000 counterfeit CDs and DVDs.

This case is the product of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force, with assistance from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Henry Z. Carbajal III prosecuted the case.