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In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors.
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SoCal brothers sentenced for their role in software smuggling ring
Thursday June 19, 2003
LOS ANGELES (AP) Two brothers who attempted to smuggle
millions of dollars worth of counterfeit Microsoft software from
Hong Kong to this country were sentenced to prison Thursday.
Peter Yi, 39, of Chino Hills, was sentenced to 33 months. His
older brother, Sung K. Yi, 45, of Cypress, was given a 2-year
prison sentence.
Both were convicted in November 2001 of conspiracy to smuggle
and smuggling. Peter Yi also was convicted of being a felon in
possession of a gun and a felon in possession of ammunition.
Authorities said the brothers worked with a former U.S. Customs
agent, his brother and a criminal defense attorney to smuggle fake
Microsoft software, between 1999 and 2000.
The defendants were about to receive 10,000 discs of the
counterfeit software when they were taken into custody in July
2000. The software was estimated to be worth $7 million, but
authorities said the Yis believed it was worth much less than that.
Richard Casas, the former U.S. Customs agent, pleaded guilty to
federal charges shortly after his arrest and is serving a 30-month
prison term.
The case stemmed from an investigation of complaints that Casas
was receiving kickbacks for referring criminal suspects to
Westminster attorney Lawrence S. Boyle, 56. An undercover operative
who faked being in legal trouble managed to win the group's
confidence.
Boyle was sentenced to three years probation and six months home
detention.
Edward Casas pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling and was
sentenced to two years probation, including four months home
detention. He was also fined $1,000.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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