RIAA HITS ARIZONA CD PIRATES

The Recording Industry Association of America, with the assistance of Arizona authorities, launched a successful raid this week on two Phoenix-area counterfeit music operations, netting numerous illegal production devices and scores of pirated CDs.

Special agents from the Arizona Attorney General's Office, with the RIAA's Anti-Piracy Unit, executed two criminal search and seizure warrants Aug. 9, nabbing a plethora of equipment used for the illegal sale of recorded material.

"We were pleased to be able to work with Arizona authorities to expand our anti-piracy efforts in the region," said Frank Creighton, Sr. VP, RIAA Anti-Piracy Unit. "The RIAA is taking a hard line on music pirates… and successes like this should send a clear message to counterfeiters that their days are numbered."

One residence and one retail location, "The Mix Shop," were searched, resulting in the seizure of counterfeiting equipment, including one duplicator with three slaves, 37 CD-R burners, three computer systems, two scanners, 641 CD masters, 1,161 audio cassette masters and a partridge in a pear tree.

Shaun Lyons, the owner of the store, was taken into custody and charged with violation of the true name and address sections of the Arizona Penal Code.

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