New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Counterfeit Movie DVDs and Music CDs

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that DARNELL REED, age 40, of New Orleans, pled guilty today to two counts of criminal copyright infringement.

According to court documents, Special Agents from the United States Homeland Security Investigations, Investigators from the Louisiana Department of Justice/Attorney General Investigations Division (LDOJ/AG) and an investigator from the Recording Industry Association of America, Inc. (RIAA) and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) conducted a controlled buy from REED, who was in a parking lot in the 1100 block of Elysian Fields Avenue. The investigator approached REED and inquired about a purchase of a movie DVD and music CDs. The DVDs and CDs were displayed in the rear of REED’s vehicle, which also hung a handwritten sign showing “3 FOR $10” and “7 FOR $20.”  The investigator purchased one music CD and two movie DVDs from REED for the sum of $10. The investigator examined the DVDs and CD and determined that they were counterfeit.  Law enforcement agents seized approximately 7,187 counterfeit DVDs and 7,315 counterfeit CDs from REED’s vehicle.

On each count, REED faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier set sentencing  July 9, 2015.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and Investigators from the Louisiana Department of Justice, Attorney General in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Loan "Mimi" Nguyen is in charge of the prosecution.

Darnell Reed Factual Basis