Both get a year of house arrest for selling more than $360,000 in counterfeit Microsoft programs.
By CHRIS TISCH
Published August 30, 2003
Two men have been sentenced to a year of house arrest in what is believed to be the first computer piracy prosecution in Pinellas County.
Timothy Andras, 43, and Andrew Acevedo, 31, were arrested in September 2001 on charges they sold more than $360,000 in counterfeit Microsoft computer programs.
They were charged with five counts each of grand theft and two counts of selling counterfeit goods.
A 45-page arrest affidavit says the pair sold counterfeit versions of Microsoft's Office 97 Professional Edition from their telemarketing business.
The pair sold 3,705 sets of the program, which generated $361,894 in revenues for their business and resulted in $874,846 in losses for Microsoft, the world's largest computer software company.
The pair pleaded guilty to the charges on Aug. 21. They could have received roughly two years in prison for the crimes, but agreed to make a good-faith effort to pay the money back, said prosecutor Glenn Martin.
Andras, who presented a $50,000 restitution check upon sentencing, will be on probation for five years after his house arrest expires.
Acevedo, who did not present any upfront restitution, will serve 10 years of probation, Martin said.
The two also were ordered to pay about $39,000 to cover the costs of the investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
