Umar Ahmad, Copyright Infringement, New York 2023

Umar Ahmad, a notorious online pirate, has been charged with copyright infringement in New York. Ahmad, also known as 'Artist,' allegedly worked with George Bredi and Jonatan Correa, also known as 'Raid,' to distribute pirated movies and TV shows on the internet.

According to the indictment, Ahmad, Bredi, and Correa were members of the Sparks Group, an international piracy ring that circulated nearly every movie released by major production studios, as well as TV shows. The group allegedly used a network of servers to distribute the pirated content to members worldwide.

The investigation, led by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, in coordination with law enforcement authorities in 18 other countries, resulted in the arrest of Bredi in Cyprus and Correa in Olathe, Kansas. Ahmad remains at large.

The indictment charges Ahmad, Bredi, and Correa with copyright infringement, with Bredi also facing wire fraud charges. The case is assigned to United States District Judge Richard M. Berman.

The operation to dismantle the Sparks Group involved shutting down dozens of servers controlled by the group, including those in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss praised the efforts of the law enforcement agencies involved in the operation, saying, 'This investigation shows that despite the online platform and international nature of this scheme, we are committed to stopping those who use the cyber world for illicit gain.'

HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh added, 'This investigation highlights the global nature of online piracy and the need for international cooperation to combat it.'

The case is an example of the collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies across borders and continents, according to Ladislav Hamran, President of Eurojust, 'This case is an excellent example of what can be achieved if we work together across borders and continents.'

According to the allegations contained in the indictment, Ahmad, Bredi, and Correa worked together to distribute pirated movies and TV shows between 2011 and the present.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/acting-us-attorney-announces-federal-charges-and-international-operation-dismantle-0