Media

Sheriff’s Office Detectives Arrest Man for Counterfeiting DVDs, Video Tapes, CDs and Electronic Games

Release Date: June 16, 2004

Investigators with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office have taken a man into custody who they believe has been illegally copying movies, many of which are still playing in area theaters.

Deputies found almost 500 counterfeit movies, CDs and electronic games at a midtown laundromat. Illegal copies of Shrek 2, Garfield, and other recent movies including The Passion of the Christ, were recovered in the raid. Don Hollie, an investigator with the Motion Picture Industry and Music Recording Industry was with deputies when the suspect was arrested last evening.

Reginald R. Williams, 45, of Memphis was arrested and has been charged with Criminal Simulation in connection with the recovered items. Deputies say Williams also had copies of musical concerts which had been illegally video taped. As an example, the entertainer “Prince” had a concert at the Pyramid in Memphis earlier this week. Williams had multiple copies of that concert. Besides the movies, deputies recovered music CDs and “X Box” video games.

Last night’s arrest is yet another investigation headed by the Sheriff’s Office “ALERT” team, Area Law Enforcement Retail Team. Owners and manager of many area businesses work with the Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies to investigate property thefts.

“This is another indication that the ALERT program is helping to address the growing problem of retail theft in Memphis and Shelby County. Our efforts to collaborate with merchants and other law enforcement agencies are sending a clear message to people involved in these illegal activities,” said Shelby County Sheriff Mark H. Luttrell, Jr.

So far this year, 28 people have been arrested through the Sheriff’s Office ALERT team initiative. More than a quarter of a million dollars in stolen property has been recovered.

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