[1QwikBee]

Found this in the local paper today. Anybody know which site this was?



TORONTO -- To people in London, Martin Mullen must have seemed like a quiet businessperson who ran a successful computer company from his home. But to police in Florida and satellite television giant DirecTV Group Inc., Mullen ran one of the largest and most sophisticated pirate satellite TV operations they have ever seen.

Mullen, 50, specialized in making bogus "smart cards" -- computer cards that satellite TV companies provide customers to unscramble signals.

According to court records, his operation was so intricate that he had more than 100 distributors across North America and even held training seminars for recruits that included an instructional video.

DirecTV, which has about 11 million subscribers in the United States, estimated Mullen cost the company more than $200 million US.

Mullen was arrested last June in Tampa, where some of his U.S. operations were based.

He pleaded guilty to fraud and other charges and, on Monday, he was sentenced to seven years in prison.

He was also ordered to pay $24 million in restitution.

"Our code name for this case was Operation Kingpin," Richard Stone, a Los Angeles-based lawyer for DirecTV and NDS Americas Inc., which makes the smart cards, told the Globe and Mail.

Mullen has a long history in satellite television piracy. DirecTV first went after him in 1996 and won a $5-million judgment.

His latest scam began around 1998, when he set up a company called Multi-Media Images in his London home.

According to court documents, Mullen was breaking into the computer codes on satellite TV smart cards and cloning thousands of duplicates. His copies were so good they eluded electronic countermeasures that satellite companies use to catch fake cards.

Mullen's operation grew quickly and he was soon supplying thousands of cards across the United States and Canada.

In one three-month period alone, Mullen distributed 16,000 cards in the United States, court records show.

But DirecTV and NDS had been keeping their eyes on Mullen.

In 2001, NDS hired a private investigator to infiltrate his operation. The agent "created a persona and befriended Mr. Mullen," Stone told the Globe. "Marty opened up and showed him the whole operation."

Cyber1 was one of those old time guys in the background that you never heard of that was setting up dealers left and right, I think their estimate of 100 distributors was way low, unless you consider most distributors had a bunch of dealers working for them. And remember, this was all back in H days, well before the incredible boom of the HU's hit!
This is one more example of dtv taking out the top guys that could finance a hack of their new card.

Echostar just sent papers to the guy I learned everything from, Non certified mail 120 grand. Lol, Missed the bird Charlie,Try 12 gauge 9 shot next time, pump.

Northern redneck and every stranger here is meet with 12 at the door, Pump. Guess some old law says I cannot great with a AK47 anymore in fully automatic. LMAO.

[tigert422]

Originally Posted by BirdieMod

Northern redneck and every stranger here is meet with 12 at the door, Pump. Guess some old law says I cannot great with a AK47 anymore in fully automatic. LMAO.

This is what I copied from another site
>>>>> RE POST FROM DIFFERENT SITE >>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hi everyone. Let me just start by saying that i am a smaller dealer that just got into this FTA business. I used to buy, but now i sell. After viewing these forums, i found that there was an important post missing, regarding the real legal situation and FTA.

So, what did i do? I just paid $800 to meet for a few hours with a lawyer that is very knowledgeable in telecommunications. Here is what i can p!!! on, for free.

IS FTA LEGAL IN NORTH AMERICA

Absolutely. By definition, it is FREE to air. Free channels, and a reciever to watch them with. There is nothing wrong with Free to Air. The goverment knows that, the big companies (!!!!, echo, cable companies) know it, and so should you. Free to Air has been around long before all of this craze revolving around the industry. Nothing has changed

IS IT LEGAL TO BUY FTA RECEIVERS FROM ANY WEB SITE

Absolutely. It doesn't really matter which site is selling the reciever, if it is FTA, then you can purchase it. Even if the site advertises illegal decryption, you can still buy it, as long as when you recieve it, you are watching FTA. That is why there are factory manufacturer software files. You are not responsible for the marketing of the web site. Only they are.

If you buy steak knives from a site that condones murder, because you like the brand of knives, you can rest !!!ured that no one is coming knocking at your door for any crime. This is the same. Maybe your unit was "pre-flashed" when sent, but then who's to say you didn't flash it back right away, and watch FTA channels? maybe the price was right, or the model was hard to find. Either way, you are legally free to purchase anywhere.

IF MY DEALER GETS INTO LEGAL TROUBLE, AM I AT RISK TOO?

No. Unlike DTV hack equipment, you are safe from being "sued" or pursued for purchasing FTA. With DTV, there really was no other reason for getting a LOADER other than to program cards. Sure, you could argue you like to test atmel chips, but basically, if your dealer was busted, you were in big trouble.

FTA is different. A dealer can get in trouble for marketing a certain way, or for modifying units. But you, as an end-user, are never at risk, simply because FTA receivers are fully legal. It would take a stakeout at your house, watching you download !!!!!!!!! channels to come after you for signal theft. If you see an ice-cream truck with antennas outside your home, watch out. Other than that, don't even think about it.

SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT ANYTHING?

Not at all. If you ever get a phone call from Echostar, !!!!, or a lawyer's office, never, even for a second, worry about it. They are not coming after you. They would simply want information on your dealer. Don't incriminate yourself by even listening to the call. Politely say "I only watch FTA programming..bye..i'm in the middle of dinner". Because you are not at risk, never put yourself in this situation. They can never prove otherwise. Remember, you are only watching FTA programming. Period.

THE FUTURE

Basically...Just enjoy TV. Don't worry. Don't be paranoid. No one is ever coming after you. No one is suing you. No one is watching you. No one can prevent you from watching FTA television. Don't even worry about your dealer, and records of purchase. As far as the law is concerned, you purchased FTA. Let your dealer sort out any messes. It doesn't concern you. You should just watch TV.

Yes...this post cost me a pretty penney. But I wanted to be sure, and I wanted to fully understand my legal position. Hopefully, dealers will copy this email and send it to their customers so everyone can be properly informed. At least post it on your websites. It will make visitors/customers of your site much more comfortable purchasing products. Have a Great Day!!

[dRaNo]

He paid about $800 too much for that meeting

Interesting but not all true.

[brjak]

what a load of crap.....what do expect a guy to say, he makes money selling these units to you...did u think he was going to say "u will get in trouble" or "its illegal" Man alive, you have to wake up and smell the coffee.

AMEN brother.

[tigert422]

Originally Posted by rurso

AMEN brother.

Just like Radar Detectors it suppose to keep you out of touble while you speed so why did you get caught HA HA !! You know how I know that !!!

drphibes hit the nail on the head with this one...no more script writers,no more piracy!

dont go feelin' too sorry for mr mullen.....he didnt feel sorry for any of us..hopefully he stashed some cash in an offshore or Swiss bank

no telling how many he help support with his piracy cash??? maybe some of them will now have to drive a 10 year old vehicle like the rest of us??

[t160hq]

Here I thought I was doing better when I picked up my last vehicle at 14 years old. About a year ago.

Well it was a big jump from the 38 year old one I was driving. Well I'm still using it just not as often now.

t160hq

[t160hq]

Originally Posted by BirdieMod

Northern redneck and every stranger here is meet with 12 at the door, Pump. Guess some old law says I cannot great with a AK47 anymore in fully automatic. LMAO.

hehehe.

Switched to a SKS myself. So I have to pull the trigger 30 times instead of once. I can live with that.

I would use the 12 pump but seems they enacted some silly law about barrel length. If only I had known about that before I took the hacksaw to it.

t160hq

I am a small fish no mead for them, so I don't care.
Be a USA prisoner you don't have to pay rent.