Components for Cable Piracy Devices Seized
Components to build hundreds of illegal “black boxes”--descrambling devices that enable users to illegally access cable TV channels--were confiscated in raids Wednesday, authorities announced.
The raids uncovered evidence of a national cable piracy operation that was conducted over the Internet, under the names Cable Converter Concepts and Hi-Tek Converter Cable, said Sgt. Perri Feinstein-Portales, spokeswoman for the Moreno Valley Police Department.
Police also seized master computer chips that could be cloned for new black boxes, as well as shipping and billing evidence showing the identities of hundreds of customers who purchased them, at prices ranging from $70 to $300 depending on the level of sophistication required.
She said the devices were able to get access to the programming of virtually every cable company in the country, costing the firms millions of dollars in lost revenue.
Arrested on suspicion of various felony charges were Charles Balan, 28, of Romoland, near Hemet, and Brian Fulk, 24, of Moreno Valley.
Other suspects were still being sought, police said.
The raids were prompted by cable piracy investigators from MediaOne, a cable service company, which discovered the suspects’ Internet promotions.
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