SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) – A Monday morning search led local and federal officials to the seizure of about 10,000 counterfeit CDs and DVDs.
Ross Feinstein, spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), says that Monday morning, Springfield Police and special agents from the Homeland Security Investigations division of ICE executed a federal search warrant at Main Source, located on Main Street in Indian Orchard.
“The search warrant was in support of an ongoing investigation regarding intellectual property theft,” Feinstein adds.
“The HSI directorate is a critical asset in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) mission, responsible for investigating a wide range of domestic and international activities arising from the illegal movement of people and goods into, within and out of the United States,” he notes.
Seized during Monday’s operation were about 10,000 counterfeit DVDs and CDs, some of which included movies that are still in the theater.
Feinstein says that the division’s Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center remains one of the nation’s key weapons in fighting criminal counterfeiting and piracy. He explains that “The IPR Center uses the expertise of its 20 member agencies to share information, develop initiatives, coordinate enforcement actions, and conduct investigations related to [intellectual property] theft. Through this strategic inter-agency partnership, the IPR Center protects the public’s health and safety, the U.S. economy and the war fighters.”
Homeland Security special agents continue to investigate this case.
Feinstein notes that anyone can report theft of intellectual property online by visiting their website.
how about you guys go after gangstas and thugs
instead
Still a waste of time; how about you go after bad parents who let there kids join gangs and cause violence that never ends? How about the murderers, the breaking and entering in the night? There ain’t no gangstas or thugs in Springfield. Just wannabees.
Money=priority i guess. Afterall, what’s more important than busting a pirated movie ring???
Thank you Homeland Security from saving us from this horrible scourge. CHECKMATE, TERRORISTS!
Smh, its still a crime and its ICE they don’t care about your bad parents or your gang bangers got off your soap boxes and be more proactive in your community’s if you want to see the gangsters and thugs taken of the street.
not even that serious Really??? Movies n Cds not drugs, violence, or prostitution not doing harm to anyone… It is what it is i guess… He was a good person tryin to make his money like evreyone else n had the best bootlegs around ;*)
Curious about this, Homeland Security – Counterfeit DVDs and CDs …. Somehow I fail to see the connection, but we will continue to allow our government to waste our money fighting crime that only hurts the very rich, while crime that affects the lower and middle classes will continue to be ignored… guess it is just easier that way.
now where am i gonna go to get my movies smh lol
Too bad they didn’t seize 10,000 illegal aliens.
i agree drugs, gangs, illegal immigration should be the main control
Homeland Security my ***!
I’d rather see the headline read “10000 illegal weapons seized”. Cd’s and dvd’s in someone’s house doesn’t scare me.
is it great to sea homeland security hard at work….terrorists take note illegal dvd’s are more important to homeland security ..drug dealer, child molester, rapist don’t worry as long you don’t sell illegal dvd’s you get a free ride…..
Crime is crime. These people sell the CD’s and DVD’s to get more money to buy the drugs that they are selling to your kids. Wake up people. Crime is everywhere and it is sometimes disguised as something innocent. I’ll bet money that there was child porn in those DVD’s. Was it possibly one of your kids or your neighbors. Let’s get real and give credit to law enforcement.