RIAA Uses Local Cops In Oregon Raid

newtley writes "Fake cops employed by the RIAA started acting like real police officers quite a while ago — one of the earliest examples unfolded in Los Angeles in 2004. From a distance, the bust, 'looked like classic LAPD, DEA or FBI work, right down to the black "raid" vests the unit members wore,' said the LA Weekly. That their yellow stenciled lettering read 'RIAA' instead of something from an official law-enforcement agency, 'was lost on 55-year-old parking-lot attendant Ceasar Borrayo.' But it's also SOP for the RIAA to wield genuine officers paid for entirely from citizen taxes as copyright cops. Police were used in an RIAA-inspired raid at two flea markets in Beaverton, Oregon. 'Sgt. Paul Wandell, Beaverton police spokesman, said officers seized more than 50,000 items worth about $758,000,' says The Oregonian. But this is merely the tiny tip of an iceberg of absolutely staggering dimensions, an example of the extent coming in a GrayZone report slugged RIAA Anti-Piracy Seizure Information."

Comments

Re:Am I missing something?

[treeves]

Based on the names of the people arrested, there could be other issues, immigration related, perhaps. Not that they do much about that here. Hillsboro is sometimes called Hillsburrito.
--

Police release names of those arrested in piracy raid
Posted by The Oregonian June 10, 2007 16:16PM
Categories: Breaking News, Washington County

Beaverton police released the names today of 10 people arrested Saturday in a large piracy raid at two popular swap meets.

Accused of selling counterfeit CDs and DVDs are: America Benito, 32; Laura Morales Carrasco, 27; Silvia Hernandez, 44; Daniel Flores Armenta, 22; Jose Ibarra Romero, 19; Ma Maldonado, 46; Jose Romero Esquivel, 36; Miguel Orduna Alonso, 28; Victor Garcia, 37; and Martha Tellez, 36.

Officers seized more than 50,000 items worth about $758,000, including counterfeit music CDs and movie DVDs and knockoff designer purses, sunglasses and clothing at the M&M Swap Meet and Millennium Flea Market in Hillsboro.

One industry official called the piracy raid the largest in Oregon and one of the largest in the country. Search warrants are expected to be released Monday.

  Suzanne Pardington