$9.8 MILLION IN SOFTWARE, CASH SEIZED IN COUNTERFEITING PROBE.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Authorities seized nearly $10 million in reportedly pirated Microsoft computer software and cash, breaking one of the biggest software counterfeiting counterfeiting, manufacturing spurious coins, paper money, or evidences of governmental obligation (e.g., bonds) in the semblance of the true. There must be sufficient resemblance to the genuine article to deceive a person using ordinary caution. rings on the West Coast, police said. The Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, probe stretched from Sherman Oaks to Orange County and involved a computer store, a suburban Monterey Park Monterey Park, city (1990 pop. 60,738), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a growing residential suburb of Los Angeles; inc. 1916. It is a wholesale, retail, and financial services center. warehouse and several area banks, court records and interviews with detectives reveal. Popular Microsoft computer programs, such as Windows 95 and Office Professional & Bookshelf, were believed to have been manufactured overseas, most likely in China. The merchandise was then sold cheaply and distributed from the Monterey Park warehouse, detectives said Tuesday. ``We feel we have hit a major cartel of the pirating industry,'' said Lt. Gary Schram, head of the major crimes section in the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County district attorney's Bureau of Investigations. An estimated $6.2 million in Microsoft software and $3.6 million in cash were seized in raids that began in December and culminated with detectives serving search warrants at four locations in Orange County last week. It's believed to be one of the largest seizures of suspected counterfeit Microsoft software in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , said Microsoft spokeswoman Karen Porter. Two Chinese nationals, Zhijian Song, 43, and Jian Ping Zhu, 38, were arrested Feb. 19 for investigation in the counterfeit software distributing scheme. They have been held in the county jail, with bail set at $5 million each. The bail is high, but authorities and Microsoft officials said it reflects the growing problem of computer software piracy The illegal copying of software for distribution within the organization, or to friends, clubs and other groups, or for duplication and resale. The software industry loses billions of dollars each year to piracy, and although it may seem innocent enough to install an application on a . A preliminary hearing for Song and Zhu was scheduled for today, but it was expected to be postponed due to the complexity of the case. The case was filed Feb. 21 without much notice in Los Angeles Municipal Court. Patrick McPherson, who headed the investigation, said the probe was set in motion after he got a tip about the Sherman Oaks computer store. The store led to Song, which led to the warehouse, McPherson said. Raids last week in Orange County turned up more software, as well as computer chips. The chips are believed to be counterfeit Intel products, McPherson said. By Feb. 20, investigators had seized $1.97 million from various banks, court records show. Another $1.7 million was confiscated con·fis·cate tr.v. con·fis·cat·ed, con·fis·cat·ing, con·fis·cates 1. To seize (private property) for the public treasury. 2. To seize by or as if by authority. See Synonyms at appropriate. adj. Monday, McPherson said. |
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