United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

NEW LONDON STORE OWNER ADMITS MAKING, SELLING PIRATED MOVIES

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ROBERT P. MILLER, age 46, of New London, Connecticut, pleaded guilty yesterday, August 27, before United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney 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.

Judge Droney has scheduled sentencing for November 15, 2007, at which time MILLER faces a maximum term of imprisonment of one year and a fine of up to $100,000.

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

CONTACT:

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