Operation Fastlink

Operation Fastlink was a coordination of four separate simultaneous undercover investigations by the FBI, the FBI Cyber Division, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) of the Criminal Division and Interpol. This raid occurred in similar fashion to Operation Buccaneer.

The operation led to the successful busts of nearly 100 individuals involved in illegal copying of copyrighted software (so-called "software piracy"), and alterations thereof, worldwide. There were around 120 total searches executed in 27 states and in 10 foreign countries. Foreign searches were conducted in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, the Netherlands, Singapore, Sweden as well as Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Among the prolific groups targeted by Fastlink were Fairlight, Kalisto, Echelon, Class, DEViANCE which specialized in "pirating" computer games and movies, and music release groups such as aPC.

Convictions

• Jathan Desir, 26, of Iowa City, Iowa, has pleaded guilty to charges related to his role and will face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced on March 18, 2005.
• Joshua Abell, 24, of San Antonio, Texas, pled guilty.
• Seth Kleinberg, 26, of Pasadena, California, Executive Editor of Game-Over.net, pled guilty.
• Jeffrey Lerman, 20, a College Park, Maryland student from Long Island, New York, pled guilty.
• Albert Bryndza, 32, of Flushing, New York, pled guilty.

External links

• US Department of Justice announcement of raid
• Officials unseal piracy records – about Jathan Desir, first person prosecuted following the raid.
• Feds convict warez pirate – (CNet) about Jathan Desir's conviction.
• Feds crack down on software piracy sites – Seattle Post Intelligencer story on Operation Fastlink arrests.