Imnl -- Fw MEMBER or MEGAUPLOAD CONSPIRACV PLEADS GUILTV TO conRIGm INFRINGEMENT CHARGES AND Is SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR PRISON Haw Febmaryls 20w In Cyrus Fem/a! ,rr From: 01 Public Afiairs (SMO) of Public Afiairs@usdoj gov> Sent: Friday' February 13' 20151050 AM To: 01 Public Aflalrs (8M0) Subject MEMBER OF MEGAUPLOAD CONSPIRACY PLEADS GUILTY TO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT CHARGES AND IS SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR IN US. PRISON "Jew 5 {e um uf .flmfiiw FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CRM FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13. 2015 (202) 514-2007 WWVW JUSTICE GO TTY (866) 54475309 MEMBER OF MIEGAUPLOAD CONSPIRACX LEADS GUILTY T0 COPYRIGHT INFRINGEIVIENT CHARGES AND IS SEDTEN ED T0 YEAR IN US PRISON WASHINGTON 7 A computer programmer for the Mega copy: cy Andms Nomm. 36, ofEstoma. pleaded glulty today In comleouon 1215 Involvement \l'ltll Megaunload com and assoclated plracy websltes He was sentenced to a year and a day :11 federal isun [01 mg to comuut felony copy] mfi'lugemeul Altonley Genelal Leshe Caldwell oflhe Deparmrerrl's Cl ullulal Dlvmon. Attomey Dana I. Boente of the Easteln of \'u'glnla and Du'ectol' 111 Change And) ew klcCabe othe FBl's \Vashulgton Fleld Office made the announcement US Judge Llaln ()'Gl'ady ofthe Eastern of \'n'glnla accepted the plea and unposed the sentence "Tlns convictlon ls a slgniflcant step folwald ln the largest crunmal case Inflow ld Attorney General Caldwell "The Mega are charged masslve onhne puacy oflnovles, 11111510 and othel works We lntend to see to lt that all those are held accountable for themsele by steallng the creauve work ofU amsts and creators “This outcome is the result of years of hard work by our office and our partners from the Criminal Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” said U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente. “The Mega Conspiracy engaged in massive criminal infringement of copyrighted works on the Internet, and we are confident that this case will be a sign to those who would abuse technology for illegal profit.” “Today one conspirator who infringed upon the work of countless artists, actors and musicians takes responsibility for his actions,” said Assistant Director in Charge McCabe. “We continue to pursue his co-conspirators until they face justice in the American legal system. This sentence and the remaining charges in this case are the direct result of the hard work of dedicated FBI Special Agents, intelligence analysts and prosecutors who have invested countless hours of effort to bring justice in this case.” Nomm agreed to waive his extradition hearing in the Netherlands, where he was arrested in January 2012, and plead guilty in the United States. In light of his role in the conspiracy and acceptance of responsibility, prosecutors agreed to recommend the sentence of a year and a day in federal prison. Nomm was initially charged along with six other individuals and two privately-held corporations by a federal grand jury on Jan. 5, 2012, and a superseding indictment with additional charges was subsequently returned on Feb. 16, 2012. The superseding indictment charged the defendants with three separate conspiracies: conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit copyright infringement and conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition, the defendants are charged with five counts of criminal copyright infringement and five counts of wire fraud. The indictment alleges that, for more than five years, the Mega Conspiracy operated websites that willfully reproduced and distributed infringing copies of copyrighted works, including works that had not been commercially released. The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations and the remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. In court papers, Nomm agreed that the harm caused to copyright holders by the Mega Conspiracy’s criminal conduct exceeded $400 million. He further acknowledged that the group obtained at least $175 million in proceeds through their conduct. Megaupload.com had claimed that, at one time, it accounted for four percent of total Internet traffic, having more than one billion total visits, 150 million registered users and 50 million daily visitors. In a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Nomm admitted that he was a computer programmer who worked for the Mega Conspiracy from 2007 until his arrest in January 2012. Nomm further admitted that, through his work as a computer programmer, he was aware that copyright-infringing content was stored on the websites, including copyright protected motion pictures and television programs, some of which contained the “FBI Anti-Piracy” warning. Nomm also admitted that he personally downloaded copyright-infringing files from the Mega websites. Despite his knowledge in this regard, Nomm continued to participate in the Mega Conspiracy. An extradition hearing for co-defendants Kim Dotcom, Mathias Ortmann, Bram Van der Kolk and Finn Batato is currently scheduled for June 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. Codefendants Julius Bencko and Sven Echternach remain at large. defendants Julius Bencko and Sven Echternach remain at large. This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Headquarters and Washington Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Counsel Ryan K. Dickey and Brian L. Levine of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay V. Prabhu of the Eastern District of Virginia. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also provided significant assistance. ### 15-184 DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE USE THE CONTACTS IN THE MESSAGE OR CALL THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT 202-5142007.