Counterfeit DVD Sales at Flea Market Result in Copyright Infringement Conviction for Moore Man

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—This morning, DARREN TODD BLACK, 43, of Moore, pled guilty to a felony count of criminal copyright infringement of motion picture DVDs, announced John C. Richter, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Black was charged on June 9, 2009, with infringing copyright by reproducing and selling copyrighted movies for private financial gain. Black admitted to illegally copying the DVDs using computer equipment and then selling them at his booth at the Old Paris Flea Market in Oklahoma City. According to court documents, Black sold numerous DVDs in exchange for payments totaling thousands of dollars. Some of these sales were to undercover agents. As part of his plea agreement, Black will forfeit $40,000 in cash, two DVD duplicating towers, a flat screen TV, two computers, label making equipment, plastic DVD cases, and nearly 1,800 blank and counterfeit DVDs, all of which were seized by agents during searches of his home and flea market booth.

At sentencing, Black faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing will be set by the Court in approximately 90 days.

This case was investigated by Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which was assisted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma City Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Hale.