By Bill Lindelof
blindelof@sacbee.com
Sacramento investigators have confiscated $2 million in counterfeit CDs and DVDs from a San Jose warehouse. (Photo at left from the Sacramento Sheriff's Department.)
Among the DVDs were movies still in theaters, including "Megamind," "Due Date" and "Saw 3D."
The bootleg movies are obtained by video recording films inside theaters, according to a news release from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.
Investigators from the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force also busted a sophisticated counterfeit manufacturing operation in San Jose, the release states.
The investigation began in early August in Galt. It led detectives to two homes and a storage facility in Sacramento and a residence in Modesto.
Six arrests were made during the investigation for charges related to trafficking counterfeit goods, possession and use of counterfeit identification, identity theft and use of fraudulent documents to conceal citizenship.
Those arrested were Abel Zaragoza, 44, of Sacramento, Victor Quiroz, 22, of Modesto, Eleazar Gomez, 27, of Sacramento, Carlos Tejada, 31, of Sacramento, Aldo Alamilla, 21, of Sacramento and Luis Puntos, 22, of Merced, the release states.
All except Zaragoza have United States immigration holds placed upon them and are ineligible for bail, investigators said.
Zaragoza posted $10,000 bail and was released from custody, the release states.
So far, more than 350,000 counterfeit items have been seized and three manufacturing operations shut down.
The task force worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration & Customs Enforcement and anti-piracy investigators from the Recording Industry Association of America.
Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079.
KCRA: Bust nets $2M in counterfeit items
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