Couple Charged With Tape Piracy
- Share via
VAN NUYS — A couple accused of selling illegally copied Disney movies out of their home were charged with tape piracy Tuesday, authorities said.
Richard and Ina Depari, both 53, could face one year in jail and a $25,000 fine if convicted, said Deputy City Atty. Nicholas Fratianne.
The Deparis were arrested Saturday after officers searched their Van Nuys home and found 59 illegally duplicated videos of Disney movies, such as “Little Mermaid,” “Jungle Book” and “Sleeping Beauty,” Fratianne said.
Police also seized business records, including a price list for Disney videos and a note indicating advertisements they had placed in various newspapers, he said.
Investigators caught on to the Deparis’ business when an El Segundo man responded to a advertisement for “rare Disney videos” and bought five videocassettes from the Deparis. After he inspected the videos, he found they had been used and contacted authorities.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
