Gregory William Fair, Counterfeit Computer Software Sales, Virginia 2009
A Virginia man pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit computer software on eBay, defying criminal copyright infringement laws. Gregory William Fair, 46, of Falls Church, Va., admitted to selling a large volume of counterfeit Adobe software on the eBay auction Web site using multiple user IDs.
According to court documents, Fair illegally sold software with a combined retail value of at least $1 million from 2001 through February 2008.
As part of his plea agreement, Fair agreed to forfeit the proceeds of his unlawful enterprise, including $144,000 in currency seized from a safety deposit box and residence, a BMW 525i, a Hummer H2, a Mercedes CL600, and a 1969 Pontiac GTO.
Fair pleaded guilty to one count of criminal copyright infringement and one count of mail fraud before Judge R.W. Roberts in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The case is part of the government's ongoing initiative to combat online auction piracy. Including the plea announced today, the government has obtained 34 convictions involving online auction and commercial distribution of counterfeit software.
Fair faces up to five years in prison on the criminal copyright infringement count and up to 20 years in prison on the mail fraud count. He also faces a maximum fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release on each charge.
At sentencing on July 8, 2009, Fair's fate will be decided. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Washington, D.C. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Marc Miller of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenn S. Leon for the District of Columbia.
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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