Man Pleads Guilty in Counterfeit DVD Case

Defendant’s Father-in-Law Charged in Case—Trial is Set for March 2010

January 28, 2010 - Robert Campbell, Jr., pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul D. Stickney to an indictment charging one count of copyright infringement and aiding and abetting, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Campbell, 26, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and restitution. A sentencing date has not been set. He remains on personal recognizance bond.

Campbell’s co-defendant, who is his father-in-law, Osborne Lowe, of Dallas, is also charged in the indictment with the same offense. Lowe was arrested on November 24, 2009, on charges in an indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas and unsealed that day. Lowe remains on personal recognizance bond and is scheduled to go to trial on March 15, 2010.

On February 15, 2008, special agents with the FBI executed a search warrant at the business “Movies and CDs,” which was located at 9009 Bruton Road, Suite 101, in Dallas. At the time, Campbell worked for Lowe, who owned the business.

While working at “Movies and CDs,” Campbell frequently worked alone and would either open or close the store. Customers would place orders for copies of movies, which Campbell burned onto DVDs while they waited. Campbell gave customers the pirated movies, which he placed into white sleeves, in exchange for their payment of five dollars per DVD.

Campbell admitted that during a six-month period, ending the date the search warrant was executed, he assisted in the pirating of more than 151 movies, including: Bee Movie, Beowolf, Brave One, Gone Baby Gone, Michael Clayton, Rendition, Why Did I Get Married, Rambo, 27 Dresses, and Mad Money. These movies had theatrical release dates from September 7, 2007, through January 25, 2008, and DVD release dates ranging from January 1, 2008, through May 13, 2008.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aisha Saleem.