Marcos Daniel Jiménez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Hector M. Pesquera, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Division; John P. Clark, Special Agent in Charge, United States Customs Service, Miami; and Carlos Alvarez, Director, Miami-Dade Police Department, announced today that on October 31, 2002, a federal grand jury sitting in Miami, Florida, returned a seven-count Indictment charging Daniel Berrios and Rolando Peralta with federal violations for criminal copyright, Title 18, United States Code, Section 2319, and criminal trademark infringement, Title 18, United States Code, Section 2320.

Mr. Berrios is the owner of a business known as the Barrios Music Group and Tape Duplicators, and Mr. Peralta is the warehouse manager. Operating out of a warehouse located at 2116 West 62nd Street, Hialeah, Florida, the business produced thousands of counterfeit music CD and cassette tapes without the authorization of the lawful trademark and copyright holders. Over $3,000,000 of counterfeit music ranging from Jennifer Lopez to Roberto Carlos was sold or brokered by Mr. Berrios and Mr. Peralta.

If convicted, both defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of ten years of imprisonment, a criminal fine of up to $2,000,000, and restitution to the legitimate copyright and trademark owners.

Mr. Jiménez commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Customs Service and the Miami-Dade Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard D. Boscovich.

• More information on:  Protecting Intellectual Property Rights
• More information on:  Intellectual Property Crime Cases

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