Dallas Man Sentenced To 42 Months In Federal Prison In Copyright Infringement Case

Former Owner of “In Tha Game Records” Made and Sold DVDs Containing Copyrighted Movies

DALLAS — Victor Karl Shelby, 46, of Dallas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn on Wednesday to 42 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea in July 2012 to one count of willful infringement of a copyright. Judge Lynn ordered Shelby to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons by March 12, 2013, to begin serving his sentence. The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

According to documents filed in the case, Shelby owned and operated “In Tha Game Records,” which was located on East Illinois Avenue in Dallas, from sometime before September 2008 to November 2009. During that time, Shelby reproduced and sold DVDs containing copyrighted movie pictures. Shelby, or someone at his direction and with his authorization, used digital reproduction equipment located in the business to make copies of the copyrighted movies. Shelby sold each copyrighted movie for approximately $3.00.

As part of his plea, Shelby agreed to forfeit to the U.S. all the merchandise and property purchased and/or seized by law enforcement agents from his shop. That equipment included: two 11-slot DVD burner towers; 21 DVD burner drives; and approximately 2400 copyrighted DVDs.

The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Yanowitch.