Extradited Warez Leader Pleads Guilty, Faces 10 Years in Prison
Written by Ernesto on April 21, 2007Hew Raymond Griffiths, the leader of the notorious warez group ‘DrinkorDie’ has plead guilty to “conspiracy to commit copyright infringement” and “criminal copyright infringement”. Griffiths, who already spend 3 years in an Australian prison fighting his extradition to the US, now faces 10 years in prison & a $500,000 fine.
Hew Raymond Griffiths, a 44 year old British national and previous resident of Australia spent 3 years in an Australian detention center fighting his extradition to the US. Earlier this year Griffiths, who never visited the US in his entire life, lost this battle in the Australian courts which made him the first foreigner to be extradited to the US to face charges of copyright infringement.
In 1999 Griffiths openly admitted that he was leading DrinkOrDie’s daily operations and that he was in control of more than 20 of the top warez servers worldwide. Back then Griffiths claimed that he would never be caught, a statement he might regret now.
In 2001 DoD was busted during US Customs co-ordinated raids as part of Operation Buccaneer, Griffiths, also known under the nickname “Bandito”, was identified as one of DoD’s leaders.
Last February Griffiths was arraigned before a U.S. District Court to face charges of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement and one count of actual criminal copyright infringement. Yesterday U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg for the Eastern District of Virginia announced that Griffiths has agreed to plead guilty to both counts.
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16 Responses
The more they catch, the more are formed.
Amazing. DoD had good quality … thats true.
I hope he get out in 6 for good behavior. I really doubt He will serve the whole term, he’s not technically a criminal.
copyright infriengment is not theft! Fuck the US and fuck there fucked up laws!
He should have bought himself a Congresssman. Ask the MPAA. They say they’re great value for money.
bull. fuck the us.
This extradition is totally
AGAINST ALL INTERNATIONAL LAWS!!!!
If an US resident were sued in Mexico - would he be extradited by the US?
NEVER!
Fucking lame chicken-hearted Australian COWARDS!!!!!
Another bundle of tax dollars well spent to make a safer, more peaceful world. Starving children can now look forward to peaceful nights of rest on full stomachs; the AIDS epidemic shall draw further to a close; and the quest for a sustainable form of alternative energy and the survival of the human race in the fight against global warming is that much closer to being solved.
haha owned!
DoD brought us one of the first dvd decrypters, i salute them for this.
Hah! So, killing a human being will yield lesser prison than copyright infringement? Awesome!
What it really means, if you really stole million dollars from these rich daddies, you would get lesser punishment!
Law is indeed blind!
God, should reserve spots for these money hungry morons, whose billion dollar profits got a little less than expected. They, won’t starve outta hunger because of a little free share by people.
Such, moves don’t make people scare to stop sharing! Rather, it fills in new zeal and anger to fight back!!
My curses to the profits earned by these blood sucking leeches, that they don’t get any peace, happiness out of it! Rather, tension, trouble, and what not!
Why don’t they spend so, much time and money to eradicate terrorism and do, any welfare for humankind?
10 years for copyright infringement , this is unfair. even politician that found of corruption don’t even get that hash punishment
I Think,İt is very nice information…
Hitchhiker Nation
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