| In the interest of speed and timeliness, this story is fed directly from the Associated Press newswire and may contain spelling or grammatical errors. |
SoCal brothers sentenced for their role in software smuggling ring
Thursday June 19, 2003LOS ANGELES (AP) Two brothers who attempted to smuggle millions of dollars worth of counterfeit Microsoft software from Hong Kong to this country were sentenced to prison Thursday.
Peter Yi, 39, of Chino Hills, was sentenced to 33 months. His older brother, Sung K. Yi, 45, of Cypress, was given a 2-year prison sentence.
Both were convicted in November 2001 of conspiracy to smuggle and smuggling. Peter Yi also was convicted of being a felon in possession of a gun and a felon in possession of ammunition.
Authorities said the brothers worked with a former U.S. Customs agent, his brother and a criminal defense attorney to smuggle fake Microsoft software, between 1999 and 2000.
The defendants were about to receive 10,000 discs of the counterfeit software when they were taken into custody in July 2000. The software was estimated to be worth $7 million, but authorities said the Yis believed it was worth much less than that.
Richard Casas, the former U.S. Customs agent, pleaded guilty to federal charges shortly after his arrest and is serving a 30-month prison term.
The case stemmed from an investigation of complaints that Casas was receiving kickbacks for referring criminal suspects to Westminster attorney Lawrence S. Boyle, 56. An undercover operative who faked being in legal trouble managed to win the group's confidence.
Boyle was sentenced to three years probation and six months home detention.
Edward Casas pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling and was sentenced to two years probation, including four months home detention. He was also fined $1,000.
(