A U.S. Department of Justice crackdown on online piracy (Operation FastLink) has recorded its 50th felony conviction, the agency announced. Christopher E. Eaves, 31, of Iowa Park, Texas, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to one count of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement for his involvement in the Apocalypse Crew, an online organization offering music downloads before their public release. Eaves faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine and is scheduled to be sentenced August 10.
Operation FastLink is an ongoing DOJ crackdown against the organized piracy groups responsible for most of the initial illegal distribution of copyrighted movies, software, games and music on the Internet. Operation FastLink has resulted in more than 120 search warrants executed in 12 countries, the confiscation of hundreds of computers and illegal online distribution hubs, and the removal of more than $50 million worth of content from illegal distribution channels.