Modesto Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Sell Counterfeit Media

FRESNO, CA—Victor Puga Quiroz, 28, of Modesto, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii to three years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiring to traffic in counterfeit music CDs and motion picture DVDs, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, from January 2010 to November 2010, Quiroz procured several thousand counterfeit music CDs and motion picture DVDs on a regular basis from a warehouse in San Jose. Quiroz and his co-conspirators sold the CDs and DVDs to the public at the Galt Market and at other flea markets in the Eastern District of California. On November 16, 2010, more than 16,000 counterfeit DVDs and more than 70,000 counterfeit CDs were seized from Quiroz’s residences and vehicle.

Eight defendants were charged in this conspiracy. Charges are pending against Jose Colorado Munoz and Miguel Gomez. The charges are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Co-conspirators Alfredo Colorado, Luis Coahuilas Puntos, and Abel Fabela Zaragoza have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Judge Ishii has sentenced Eleazar Gomez Ortiz,, to three and a half years in prison and Carlos Benavidez Tejeda to 10 months in prison.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Henry Z. Carbajal, III and Brian W. Enos are prosecuting the case.