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Title: Employee Who Leaked 'Spider-Man' Blu-ray Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years
Prison

Link: https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/25/0...

A former Memphis disc manufacturing employee has been sentenced to nearly
five years in prison after stealing pre-release Blu-rays from his employer
and leaking them online. While he received 21 months for copyright
infringement, a concurrent firearm charge extended his total prison term to
57 months. TorrentFreak reports: In February, the U.S. Department of Justice
indicted 37-year-old Steven Hale from Tennessee, a former employee of a disc
manufacturing and distribution company in Memphis. While working at the
unnamed company between 2021 and 2022, Hale allegedly stole numerous "pre-
release" DVD and Blu-ray discs from his employer. These stolen discs
contained many high-profile movie titles including "Spider-Man: No Way Home."
In addition to the copyright infringement charge, Hale was also indicted for
a firearm offense. When raiding his premises, law enforcement found a gun in
a car that was registered in his name, which, for a felon, is a separate
criminal offense. Hale was sentenced at a federal court in Memphis yesterday,
where Chief Judge Sheryl H. Lipman handed down a 57-month prison term,
exactly in line with the U.S. government's recommendation. Two separate
sentences will be served concurrently. Hale received 21 months for the theft
and distribution of hundreds of pre-release movie discs. A longer sentence of
57 months was handed down for the firearm charge, which ultimately defines
the total prison term. Judge Lipman also granted several requests by the
defense. The court recommended that Hale be housed in a facility as close to
Memphis as possible so he can be near his family. In addition, the defendant
will be allowed to remain on bond and self-surrender to prison at a later
date. The 21-month sentence for the copyright infringement charge is
substantially lower than the maximum of 60 months. This is in part the result
of a guilty plea the defendant signed in May. After accepting responsibility,
the prosecution agreed to drop other charges and recommend a sentence at the
low end of the guideline range. Hale entered his guilty plea to Count Two of
the indictment. The charge relates to his distribution of ten or more copies
of copyrighted works, including pre-release movies, for commercial advantage
and private financial gain. This includes the pre-release 'Spider-Man: No Way
Home' disc, which is likely the source of the public leak.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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