United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

NEW LONDON STORE OWNER WHO MADE AND SOLD PIRATED MOVIES IS SENTENCED

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBERT P. MILLER, 47, of New London, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney to two years of probation, the first six months of which MILLER must serve in home confinement with electronic monitoring, for producing and selling pirated DVDs.  Judge Droney also ordered MILLER to perform 100 hours of community service.  On August 27, 2007, MILLER pleaded guilty to one count of criminal copyright infringement.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court, on three occasions between June 2004 and April 2005, MILLER, who is the owner and operator of Sarge’s Comics Store in New London, sold unauthorized or pirated DVDs to an undercover FBI agent.

On June 27, 2005, federal agents executed a search warrant at Sarge’s Comics Store and recovered at least 778 pirated DVDs and CDs, as well as a CD/DVD burner tower that was used to make unauthorized copies of copyrighted works. On that date, MILLER admitted to federal agents that he made pirated copies of motion pictures at his store and subsequently sold the pirated copies to customers.

Today, Judge Droney ordered MILLER to pay restitution in the amount of $9575 to the Motion Picture Association of America and other victims of his crime.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov