Rochester man pleads guilty in copyright infringement case

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Eugene DeBerger, 60, of Rochester, N.Y., pleaded guilty to infringement of copyright for purposes of private financial gain before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Lee, who is handling the case, stated that between January 2007 and August 2010,  DeBerger bought legal copies of copyright protected DVD movies and burned copies on his home computer. The defendant then sold them online for $3.99 a piece.  During the time period, DeBerger sold over 7000 DVDs. 

            The plea is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Special Agents from Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Christopher M. Piehota,  Special Agent in Charge.

            Sentencing is scheduled for May 29, 2013, at 3pm before Judge Geraci.