May 30, 2007

The Los Angeles County Sheriff Department High Tech Task Force (SCHTTF) arrested an adult male for video game piracy in Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet. The arrest came after an investigation conducted by Rosario Investigations on behalf of the Entertainment Software Association of America (ESA). 

After the ESA had become aware of video game piracy occurring at the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet, an undercover operative of Rosario Investigations, Inc. made undercover purchases from the suspect at Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet. 

The suspect sold the undercover operative a modified Xbox and counterfeit video games. After a thorough investigation of the suspect, Rosario Investigations contacted the SCHTTF and reported the findings of the investigation. 

Detective Hsu headed the investigation for the SCHTTF and quickly substantiated the findings made by Rosario Investigations. Detective Hsu then assembles additional members of the SCHTTF and officers from Whittier Police Department. 

At approximately 6:15 PM the suspect was placed under arrest and transported to Norwalk Sheriff Station. The suspect was charged with the felony section of California Penal Code 350(a), unauthorized use of a trademark. This charge carries a $25,000 bail and up to five years in state prison. 

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department the suspect admitted to his involvement in the illegal modification of video game consoles and the sales of counterfeit video games. 

The investigation had revealed that the suspect had been involved in the illicit sales of all major brand video game consoles including

• PSP Handheld Game Consoles

• Xbox Game Consoles

• Xbox 360 Game Consoles

• Nintendo WII Game Consoles

• PlayStation Game Consoles

The suspect's services included modifying game consoles brought in by his customers and he also stocked and sold game consoles that had been previously modified.

Records show that the suspect had a substantial history of selling counterfeit video games and modifying video game consoles. At the time of arrest, the suspect was in possession of approximately 24 video game consoles that had been previously modified and were being displayed for sale. 

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Contact:

Tony Rosario

Rosario Investigations

tony@rosarioinvestigations.com

(800) 203-7192