JUNEAU MAN INDICTED BY FEDERAL GRAND JURY ON COPYRIGHT CHARGES

Anchorage, Alaska – Acting United States Attorney Karen Loeffler announced today, December 17, 2008, that Clifford Nelson of Juneau, Alaska, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Anchorage on charges of copyright infringement for the illegal reproduction and distribution of copyrighted movies.

The two-count indictment named Clifford Nelson, age 55, as the sole defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Andrea (Aunnie) Steward, who presented the case to the grand jury, indicated that the law provides for a maximum total sentence of three years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, and forfeiture of all computer equipment used to infringe the copyrighted works. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

According to the indictment, Nelson used a computer and a digital video disc (DVD) duplicator to illegally reproduce and distribute copyrighted movies for sale.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.