If you want to stop a movement, you have to take off its head. (But dont crucify him, that just makes it worse) This is a principal known throughout the ages, and now it looks like someone caught on and has applied it to bootleggers.
A prolific movie bootlegger, dubbed “The Prince of Piracy,” has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for covertly taping and distributing movies. 36-year old Johnny Ray Gasca was the first person ever to face federal charges for using a camcorder to tape movies from inside of a theater. Gasca was found guilty of taping Anger Management, 8 Mile and The Core
Convicting the High tech Movie theif, Gasca represents the first in a line of effective control of the bootleg industry. We have said it here before on TMB that arresting a 13 year old boy for downloading movies is not going to stop the bootlegging. In the case of street sales of pirated bootleg dvds there will always be someone buying them. Arresting someone for buying one might remove a customer, but they have plenty of those. Gasca was reportedly making $4500 a week selling these movies.
I wonder if the person who turned him in got a free bag of popcorn?
Should have his licence revoked; if this man is not happy with dispensing legal drugs because of his beliefs perhaps he should try other employment, or does his income come before his beliefs? WBR LeoP
You know what the sad thing is?
He may be getting a punishment of 7 years in prison….
but the real victoms are the audience who have to put up with more Anti-Piracy ads where the boom poll guy talks about how he cant feed his family because people are bootlegging the movies he’s working
Wow, if the guy didn’t report that income on his taxes, the IRS is also gonna probably go after him. Remember, that’s how they got Al Capone.
Loved the line at the end of the article, “When is someone going to arrest the guy who had a 20-minute cell-phone conversation during the Friday matinee of Casino Royale that I was at?”
Now THAT’S what I’m talking about! Plus a public caning would be justified too!!
He was making 4500 a week! thats crazy it kind of makes me mad cause that means he makes more than me:( but at least now maybe others will see that you can get caught doing this kind of thing not to mention its just plain wrong. I am happy the MPAA is doing something about this I mean its just not right 4500 a week man so wrong!
Personally, 7 years is a little too much for doing what he did. Maybe he’ll get out early for good behavior?
$4500 a week is mind blowing. Crime does pay well sometimes. :o)
You know what’s funny… he’d probably get less time for selling drugs. Free joint with every movie.
Darren if you read the article it says he was CHARGED for those particular films. Its likely those are the only ones they had evidence against him on.
His racket in general gave him a $4500 a week paycheque.
Either way, its a step in the right direction. If they enforce stiff penalties on these crimes people will think twice before doing it. For the most part no one cared because it was like J-Walking. Its rarely enforced, and everyone does it.
Start putting people in jail for it and see if it reduces the frequency.
$4500 a week selling “The Core”? He gets seven years in federal prison?
Holy smokes. Prince of Pirates sure goes raiding thru the garbage cans…
I say I’m glad they threw the book at him!
Dude must have been hawking these boots in third would countries or something. They must be starved for Slim Shady down there…
But does Gasca’s sentence really stop this crime? Does he become the poster child for “scared straight” and he warns the kiddies “this is a no-no’? Didn’t think so. But if one were to do time for Adam Sandler, next time make sure it’s for “Punch Drunk Love”.
A lot of folks are in the slammer for various reasons; very few of them actually thought they could/would get caught. 36 yr old Gasca gets busted, no remorse for his crime, does it stop piracy? No. If Hollywood wants to really stop or deter piracy, the PSAs and other warnings only go so far. What they need to do is play fair with iTunes and other places where downloads can be done legally at a fair price.
Otherwise, they will keep running into the Gascas/self proclaimed Robin Hoods of the world. I don’t agree with illegal downloading, and I support the MPAA’s actions in addressing the problem. The way the go about it…that’s something else.
Jhon, Megaplex theaters are made FOR Hollywood films, not independent art films. Its a crime that you don’t get that.
Josh, 7 years might sound steep, but its comparable to grand theft auto, and you only have to steal a car over $1000 to get that.
Am I the only one who thinks 7 years is a little steep for bootlegging movies? I mean, 2 years maybe 3, but 7! It’s not like the guy beat someone to a bloody pulp (im sure that guy got off with an easier sentence)
10 dlls a movie ticket, that’s a crime, 5 dlls a drink that’s a crime, 10 dlls a bag of popcorn that’s a crime.
All around the world bootlegs help mantain the ART of cinema, 80 % of the films made around the world don’t get show in teathers, thanks to the industry monopoly. That’s the real crime.
Damn, did you see the movies that he went to the clink for?! At least go down taping some good shit!