2 sentenced in CD, DVD counterfeit ring

HAYWARD, Calif., Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Two California men have been sentenced to prison in what federal officials are calling the largest CD and DVD counterfeiting ring ever busted.

Ye Teng Wen, 31, and Hao He, 32, were sentenced Monday for their roles in a company that illegally burned and distributed copies of copyrighted movies, Adobe and Symantec software and Spanish-language music, the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News reported Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Ronald M. Whyte sentenced the Hayward men to more than three years in prison each and three years probation for their part in the scheme.

Both men must also pay $175,000 in fines.

The Department of Justice said the two worked with Media Art Technology, Inc. and two other companies to distribute the fake digital media to retail outlets around the country.

The group created fake FBI anti-piracy labels to slap onto the counterfeit CDs, making them seem more legitimate, officials said.

FBI agents seized 494,000 counterfeited CDs and DVDs from 13 locations in Texas and California as part of the case.