Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Selling Pirated Software

MADISON, WI—Erik C. Peterson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Kelly A. Garcia, 39, Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb to six months in prison for copyright infringement. Garcia pleaded guilty to this charge on February 2, 2009.

In March 2003, Garcia sent advertisements for software titles at reduced rates over the Internet. The Business Software Alliance bought several titles and determined that they were pirated copies of Macromedia software programs.

In November 2003, agents executed a search warrant at Garcia's home in Boscobel, Wis., and seized software titles and ledgers regarding the sale of pirated software titles. Records from Garcia's Paypal account reflected that she received approximately $85,000 in proceeds from selling pirated software programs. Garcia later admitted that she sold around 100 different pirated software titles though an online auction site.

The charges against Garcia were the result of an investigation conducted by the Business Software Alliance and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard.

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