14 DAY TRIAL // The Federal Bureau of Investigations closed down the BuysUSA.com web site in October 2005 and arrested Danny Ferrer, age 37, from Florida for selling pirated software. The programs commercialized by Ferrer were under copyright to such companies as Adobe Systems Inc. and Macromedia Inc. and were sold by mail at prices many times lower than their actual market value. Using BuysUSA.com, Ferrer earned an estimated 2.47 million dollars by distributing 20 million dollars worth of copyright software products.
In front of the judge the accused pleaded guilty to both counts against him, one for criminal copyright infringement and one for conspiracy to commit copyright infringement. The accused agreed upon paying back the $2.47 million as damages to the software companies and will testify against al accomplices in the case. This aside, he will be forced to forfeit all belongings, among which are: two Cessna airplanes, a RotorWay International helicopter, a 2005 Hummer, a 2002 Chevrolet Corvette, two 2005 Chevrolet Corvettes, a 2005 Lincoln Navigator, an IGATE G500 LE Flight Simulator, a 1984 28-foot Marinette boat and an ambulance. All these properties were bought between 2000 and 2005 while the BuysUSA.com made its illicit profit.
The accused now faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 500.000 dollars.