DirecTV Inc. has stepped up its anti-piracy efforts by executing warrants on
11 businesses in 6 states, including two that allegedly manufactured direct
broadcast satellite signal-theft equipment.
The legal actions were the result of raids that occurred last May in Orange
County, Calif. According to DirecTV, defendants who used the California facility
to distribute doctored access cards also operated sites that were targeted in
Nov. 29 raids.
DirecTV did not publicize the latest actions until after the U.S. District
Court for the Central District of California in Santa Ana ruled the raids were
conducted legally and cleared the DBS provider to proceed with civil
actions.
DirecTV said Art J. Deerey, Jr. of Naples, Fla.; Li Sang of Westfield, Ind.,
and a Canadian citizen, Steve Hutt, were the prime suspects targeted in both
sets of raids.
The trio allegedly advertised the sale of illegal equipment on several Web
sites and used the sites targeted in Tuesday's raids as fulfillment centers.
Civil seizures were executed Nov. 29 on American Precision Electronics Inc.
of Carol Stream, Ill; Micro Contract Assembly Inc. of El Toro, Calif.; and a
home and warehouse used by Scott Gray of El Paso, Texas. Raids also took place
in Utah and Indiana.
As a result of these raids, DirecTV has amended the civil complaint related
to the May California seizure. That action now targets 49 defendants.
The company has asked the federal court to freeze $250,000 in assets of those
involved. DirecTV also wants a temporary restraining order against the alleged
pirates.
