Local sting nets 3,000 pirated DVDs

Hanford police have 3,000 bootleg DVD movies - some of which are still playing in theaters - in their possession following a bust at the Monday Sale flea market.

On Tuesday, Investigators were still taking inventory of the loot, which is said to total more than $60,000.

In a joint effort with an investigator from the American Motion Picture Association, six undercover operatives went to the Monday Sale, pretending to be customers. Instead of buying DVDs, however, they were identifying vendors selling the counterfeit products to law enforcement agents.

Hanford Police Investigator Bryan Toppan said the operation was not difficult.

"It's pretty obvious out there," he said. "It's pretty flagrant, [vendors] selling these counterfeit DVDs like they would a pair of pants."

"We have things like this periodically over the last couple of years when an officer will go out and seize a fairly large amount of DVDs," Toppan said.

Piracy has been an increasing problem for Hollywood.

"The worldwide motion picture industry, including foreign and domestic producers, distributors, theaters, video stores and pay-per-view operators lost $18.2 billion in 2005 as a result of piracy," the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) said on its Web site.

Eventually, piracy could have an effect on the creative license of movie makers.

"The average motion picture cost the MPAA member companies $96.2 million to make and market in 2005. Six out of 10 movies never recoup their original investment," the MPAA said in another post on its Web site. "Fewer movies will be made and fewer creative risks will be taken if piracy continues to rob those who invest in movies."

This is the second major counterfeit DVD bust at the Monday Sale in six months. In October authorities conducted a similar operation.

According to Toppan, at any given time, there will be anywhere from 10 to 15 vendors selling counterfeit DVDs at the Monday Sale. That makes it difficult to for one patrolman to handle.

About two weeks ago, one stand had over 700 counterfeit DVDs, which led law enforcement officials to organize the bust.

Authorities arrested six vendors, five of whom are still in custody, according to jail records.

Laura Espiranza Batz, 46, of Fresno; Alejandro Perez, 30, of Reedley; and Roberto Arreola, 23, of Tulare; along with Ivanhoe residents Abel Delatorre, 35; Araceli Garrido, 46; and Sylvia Castro, 28, were arrested in the sting.

Batz posted bail on Monday.

All suspects face felony charges of failure to disclose and marketing counterfeit items. Their bails were set at $45,000.

Although the Monday Sale has recently come under fire by law enforcement agencies as a place where stolen and illegal items are sold, Toppan sought to quell any rumors that police have plans to shut down the market.

"The vast majority of stuff out there is legitimate and you have a small percentage that try to take advantage," he said. "Most people are just trying to pay the bills and make a life for themselves."

The reporter can be reached at 582-0471, ext. 3062

(April 18, 2007)