2 Members of Internet Piracy Group Sentenced in Va.

Posted: Sat 4:52 PM, Nov 03, 2012

November 3, 2012

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - Two members of the Internet piracy group have been sentenced for their role in distributing illegal copies of movies being shown in theaters.

Federal prosecutors say 57-year-old Willie Lambert, of Pittston, Pa., and 28-year-old Sean Lovelady, of Pomona, Calif., were sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court in Norfolk.

Lambert was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison, three years of supervised release and $449,514 in restitution. Lovelady was sentenced to 23 months in prison, three years of supervised release and $7,500 in restitution.

Both men had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement.

Prosecutors say they were part of IMAGiNE, which sought to become the premier group to release copies of new movies on the Internet that were only showing in theaters.

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