Brazil often makes headlines for activities linked to Operation 404, an anti-piracy initiative under the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
Best known for the mass blocking of apps in coordination with anti-piracy and law enforcement agencies around the world, the Operation 404 framework can now boast Brazil’s most significant criminal convictions linked to the supply of pirate IPTV.
Trio Sentenced at São Paulo Court
The landmark sentences were handed down June 24 at the 2nd Court of Tax Crimes, Criminal Organization, and Money Laundering. Three defendants, found guilty of money laundering offenses committed between January 1, 2017 and January 19, 2021, were identified by their initials.
The leader of the operation was identified by the initials RMDS. He was confirmed as the provider of an illicit service delivered through the MP 2.0 meuplayer.me app following a search and seizure order executed at his home. According to site snapshots, the app was available on Android and Windows desktop.
The investigation took place over a four-year period, with anti-piracy group Alianza Contra la Piratería Audiovisual (Alianza) playing a leading role. Documents seen by TorrentFreak reveal a campaign to remove the MeuPlayer app from sites including APKCombo and APKFun after hundreds of thousands of downloads.
Firearms and ammunition, numerous electronic devices, and other valuables were also seized by the authorities.
Three-Way Money Laundering
The investigation found that RMDS benefited most with the largest share of the available revenue.
More than 5,000 individual depositors sent over R$3.2 million (US$591,000) to bank accounts he controlled and various online payment platforms.
A company run by RMDS, with a name suggesting some type of hosting, was used in an attempt to conceal the source of the money. Suspicions were raised when Top Host Soluções generated disproportionately large revenues.
RMDS reportedly liked to spend money too. A Porsche Cayenne GTS was registered to his company, around R$579,000 (US$107,000) was invested in a São Paulo property, while around R$300,000 (US$55,400) was deposited into pension funds.
Transfers Back and Forth, Illegal Evidence
RMDS and his sister TMDSB were joined in the operation by an employee/mutual friend, GFL, with funds being received and also transferred between the trio.
According to a local report, 99 bank transfers were logged between RMDS and TMDSB in the period July 2017 to November 2020.
Across 7,300 transfers and cash deposits, TMDSB received over R$1 million in the same period, with around R$134,600 of the total transferred to RMDS. DPLNews describes TMDSB’s role as fundamental to the operation. Her lack of tax returns and GFL’s use of his mother’s bank account for a number of the 33 transfers, attributed to him, were also brought to the court’s attention.
Sentenced in São Paulo
Attempts by the defendants to undermine the case against them included allegations that the state court was incompetent, and the evidence was illegal and failed to show intent. The presiding judge noted that money laundering is a crime in its own right and can stand without a direct link to an underlying crime.
Judge Marcia Mayumi Okoda Oshiro sentenced the defendants at the São Paulo Court;
• RMDS – Five year prison sentence, unspecified fine
• TMDSB – Five year prison sentence, unspecified fine
• GFL – Four year prison sentence, unspecified fine
“This case confirms that piracy is no longer invisible or unpunished,” says anti-piracy group Alianza.
“Justice is taking action and will continue to severely punish those who violate intellectual property and public safety.”
The underlying intellectual property crimes matter is still pending.
From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.
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