http://www.620ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=273240


Good guy, I have traded with him. Unfortunately he became an example of Government crackdown.

Sitcoms doesn't allow selling or the trading of retail discs

but for those who do sell anyhow
and for those thinking of buying this holiday season- be forewarned-
This is the second arrest in one week from popular sale sites.




http://www.620ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=273240



Chandler Man Accused of Selling Pirated DVDs
November 30th, 2006 @ 5:01pm
by KTAR Newsroom

Chandler police say an accused DVD pirate is out of business.

Police raided 35-year-old Johnathan Scobie's home and found stacks of pirated disks.

"In the past year, he had made in excess of $30,000 as a result of sales on the internet," said Sgt. Rick Griner.

Scobie was reportedly selling illegal copies of TV shows and cartoons. Griner said they set up a sting.

"Our detectives along with members from the Motion Picture Association of America conducted an investigation," he said. "We had purchased other DVDs which were found to be pirated or duplicated illegally."

Griner said an angry customer turned him in after learning that a DVD he bought online was "home-made."

"We don't know how long he's been in existence and this is just one person of how many that are out there that haven't been caught yet," he said.
Morrison Vein Institute

Is he a member here? If yes, what's the username here, or usernames on ioffer, or other sites. I think the name rings a bell, I think I also traded with him before. Thanks.

Wow! I wonder what they'll do to him! Thanks for the warning Kim!

The frightning thing about this is the line "he sold $30,000 worth of stuff." That means the IRS will get involved and they are not so lenient. They will demand records of what he sold and I'[m sure no records were kept. Same for expenses. Do you think a seller keeps the receipts of the disks he bought and his postage receipts? I doubt it. When you are on a commission basis you file every three mos., estimated taxes and you settle up at the end of the year. I doubt isf this was done. Bottom line is you are at the mercy of the IRS. The crap about "you are innocent till proven guilty" is nonsense. The IRS accuses you and you have to prove their wrong. The penalties by this branch is way up there besides paying the back taxes. To me that's the concern.

I don't believe they will notify the Canadian authorities but being in the states is a different story. To expose yourself on a public site, where everyone can see what you made, to me is senile. It just ain't worth it but it's everyone's chosen call.

His seller name was scobman, he was a good trader and nice guy but I do not believe he was ever a member here. From the sounds of the article it sounds like he was selling movies that were still in the theatres, (sting was joint effort between police and Motion Picture Association).

I'm not so sure that the IRS will get involved, as this money was all illegal booty. The IRS would only get involved if this were money earned legit and not reported, I would assume.

Whatever happens to this guy, I'm sure he won't get off too lightly.

His seller name was scobman, he was a good trader and nice guy but I do not believe he was ever a member here. From the sounds of the article it sounds like he was selling movies that were still in the theatres, (sting was joint effort between police and Motion Picture Association).

Um, nowhere does it say he selling bootlegs of films. It doesn't mean he wasn't but the article only mentioned tv shows and cartoons.

Um, nowhere does it say he selling bootlegs of films. It doesn't mean he wasn't but the article only mentioned tv shows and cartoons.


You are right but

"Our detectives along with members from the Motion Picture Association of America conducted an investigation,"

Leads me to believe that it may have been bootleg movies, I can't see the Motion Picture Association getting involved for cartoons or TV shows, regardless... selling ANY bootlegs is pretty risky. This is 3 in 3 weeks that I have been aware of. Scobman is the only one I ever traded with though.

The IRS will most certainly get involved, background, I am a CPA and have represented numerous crooked individuals. The IRS specifically doesn't care whether it is legal or illegal gotten gain. Case in point, Drug Dealers are routinely lynched by the IRS. They take an estimate of Drug Dealers net worth based on criminal evidence. They then allow "business" deductions, (I Kid you not, they actually allow purchase price, shipment, bribes, etc.) and then the bottom line is taxed as income. IT is absolutely crazy, but it does go on. Same way they prosecuted Gotti, Capone, etc.

SO, long story short, the IRS will do a slam dunk on this guy and assess the tax at full gross income, it will be up to him to prove his expenses.


TD

Forgot to say that I represent good people too and we never know who the crooks are until its too late. Criminals exist for as long as they do, due to their ability to hide facts even from their beancounters!

Happy Holidays

and if you ever need any more looney IRS stories, feel free to email, you would not believe some of the stuff.

TD

Reguardless I feel SORRY For Honest people who are looking for short-lived sitcom shows like Star Of The Family-1982 and Turnabout-1979. Hearing this type of stuff about putting people in the pokey can make Finding and Trading Or buying shows Harder! It takes the Fun out of it.

This whole thing could be resolved if MGM, etc. would get off their lazy asses and release the things people are looking for. Obviously, if someone is making lots of money selling bootlegs, there is a demand for it. They should put more effort in finding out what it is that people want. They put out so much garbage these days, paying some actors a salary which 95% of the people in the U.S. won't earn in a lifetime. It seems to only make sense to people in Hollywood. :confused:

Boy, Greg, you hit the nail on the head. I got into trading b/c of being a life long fan of the old series detective Movies namely Charlie Chan. I collected them in every format including 16mm film prints. AND FINALLY, this year, FOX after 5 years of pressure is releasing all of their Chan films in box sets and supposedly Warners is following suit in 2007 for their later films. It is ridiculous how many films and shows sit and rot in film vaults and archives never to see the light of day.

TD

"Our detectives along with members from the Motion Picture Association of America conducted an investigation,"

Leads me to believe that it may have been bootleg movies, I can't see the Motion Picture Association getting involved for cartoons or TV shows, regardless... selling ANY bootlegs is pretty risky. This is 3 in 3 weeks that I have been aware of. Scobman is the only one I ever traded with though.
Think again. Take a look at the names of the companies represented by the MPAA. A lot of them own the rights to these shows, (such as 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers and others.)

I've heard of this guy "scobman". He was a seller on ebay. Too bad about what happen to him. Legally, he cannot be prosecuted for selling dvds of tv shows/cartoons that were never released in the U.S., because of the berne convention (law). Those tv shows are public domain, until they have been commercially released in the country.

I've heard of this guy "scobman". He was a seller on ebay. Too bad about what happen to him. Legally, he cannot be prosecuted for selling dvds of tv shows/cartoons that were never released in the U.S., because of the berne convention (law). Those tv shows are public domain, until they have been commercially released in the country.

I noticed you joined today and I'm curious was it to post this thread? I hope your not implying that if I tape last night's episode of such and such and go to sell it today, nothing can happen to me. If some act on your unfounded advice, they can be in mucho trouble.

I've heard of this guy "scobman". He was a seller on ebay. Too bad about what happen to him. Legally, he cannot be prosecuted for selling dvds of tv shows/cartoons that were never released in the U.S., because of the berne convention (law). Those tv shows are public domain, until they have been commercially released in the country.

Well perhaps you should tell that to the procecuters who are trying to do it anyway. His lawyer believes you are correct also but the estimated court costs to defend himself are over $20,000.