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Press Release For Immediate Release June 15, 2001 |
U.S. Department
of Justice United States Attorney Central District of California Thom Mrozek, Public Affairs Officer (213) 894-6947 |
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY WOMAN ARRESTED FOR TRAFFICKING
IN COUNTERFEIT MICROSOFT COMPUTER PROGRAMS
A Rowland Heights woman has been arrested on federal counterfeiting charges for trafficking in counterfeit Microsoft products including the new Windows Millennium Edition operating system, United States Attorney John S. Gordon announced today.
Anna Tzeng, 44, was arrested Friday evening pursuant to a criminal complaint filed last week in United States District Court in Los Angeles. Tzeng made her first court appearance yesterday afternoon, when United States Magistrate Judge Carolyn Turchin set bond at $150,000.
During Mondays hearing, it was revealed that Tzeng allegedly trafficked in several copyrighted Microsoft products. The investigation revealed that Tzeng obtained the pirated software and shipped it to confederates in Georgia, according to a 29-page affidavit filed last week.
Prosecutors told Magistrate Judge Turchin yesterday that Tzeng was selling cutting-edge pirated software. Microsoft officials have told investigators that this case involves the first seizure of counterfeit Windows Millennium Edition compact discs.
During the course of this investigation, five search warrants have been executed and authorities have seized Microsoft products that have a full retail value of approximately $7 million.
A preliminary hearing in this case is scheduled for June 25 (unless a grand jury returns an indictment before this date). Tzeng is scheduled to be arraigned on July 2.
The counterfeiting charge in the complaint carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
This case is the result of an ongoing investigation by the United States Customs Service.Release No. 01-098
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