Matthew Cerullo, Counterfeit DVD Scheme, Missouri 2013

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A Springfield man has pleaded guilty to a scheme to sell thousands of counterfeit DVDs over the Internet.

Matthew Cerullo, 42, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to a scheme to sell counterfeit DVDs. The charges include mail fraud, trafficking in counterfeit labels, trafficking in counterfeit goods and making false statements to federal agents.

According to court documents, Cerullo purchased and received more than 22,000 counterfeit DVDs from a distributor in Hong Kong, China between Feb. 13, 2013 and Sept. 10, 2013.

The federal investigation began when a shipment of counterfeit DVDs from Hong Kong was seized by Customs and Border Protection agents at JFK Airport. The counterfeit DVDs were being shipped to a UPS store located in Springfield under the name of a business owned by Cerullo.

During the course of the investigation, agents discovered that Cerullo had received four prior seizure notices from Customs and Border Protection, which he had not disclosed. Agents also found that Cerullo owned, operated and sold counterfeit DVDs through four different businesses.

Cerullo is subject to a sentence of up to 40 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $1 million and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/springfield-man-pleads-guilty-scheme-sell-thousands-counterfeit-dvds