"Hale, a 38-year-old with prior felony convictions for armed robbery, risked a potential sentence of 15 years for these crimes, but he reduced his sentence to a maximum of five years through his plea deal. At the time, the DOJ credited him for taking "responsibility," arguing that he deserved a maximum reduction partly because the total "infringement amount" was likely no more than $40,000, not the "tens of millions" the DOJ claimed in today's release."
"Ultimately, Hale pleaded guilty to criminal copyright infringement, while agreeing to pay restitution (the exact amount is not clarified in the release) and return "approximately 1,160 stolen DVDs and Blu-rays" that the cops seized to his former employer. Hale also pleaded guilty to "being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm," the DOJ noted, after cops uncovered that he "unlawfully possessed a pistol that was loaded with one live round in the chamber and 13 rounds in the magazine.""
Hale, age 38, had prior felony convictions for armed robbery and faced a potential 15-year sentence for the new charges but accepted a plea deal limiting exposure to five years. The DOJ credited Hale for taking responsibility and estimated the infringement amount at no more than $40,000, contrasting later claims of tens of millions in losses. Hale pleaded guilty to criminal copyright infringement, agreed to pay restitution, and to return approximately 1,160 stolen DVDs and Blu-rays to his former employer. He also pleaded guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a loaded pistol. The US District Court in Tennessee sentenced Hale to 57 months. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti stated the sentencing signals commitment to protecting American innovation and claimed the case cost one copyright owner tens of millions of dollars.
Read at Ars Technica
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