Two Men Arrested on Movie Pirating Charges

Two men were arrested Friday in Newark for possessing more than 23,000 counterfeit DVD movies and music CDs worth more than $200,000, according to State police.

Lonnie Hill, 35, of Irvington and Lamie Diallo, 29, of the Bronx, were arrested on charges involving the sale and distribution of the pirated films after officials raided a third-floor dwelling at 186 Market St. and discovered the cache of movies, some of which are still playing at local theaters.

Troopers and agents from the New Jersey Department of Treasury, Office of Criminal Investigation, along with experts from the film and entertainment industry, found the third floor of the building was accessible only after being buzzed in through a video-monitored door. Once inside, investigators found the entire floor filled with boxes of titles ready for sale, including “War Horse,” “Sherlock Holmes,” “Underworld Awakening” and “Contraband.”

“The pirating and mass distribution of unauthorized copies of DVD movies and music CDs is an illicit international industry which generates big profits for the criminals involved,” said Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa. “With this raid, we have shut down a major distribution hub for pirated movies and music.”

“This is one of many counterfeit goods operations that the New Jersey State Police have put out of business lately. Not only does this activity rob legitimate U.S. companies of profit, but money from the sale of fake goods across the country has sometimes been connected with the funding of terrorist activity,” said Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police Colonel Rick Fuentes. 

Diallo had arrived at the brick building Friday morning with a delivery of more than 2,000 packaged disks, according to the press release.

Hill allegedly is a primary operator of the illegal third floor business. The location was a distribution hub for street vendors who purchase titles cheaply and then resell them to the public, State police charge.

Both men were charged with possession of counterfeit merchandise. 

In addition, Hill was charged with possession of prescription drugs when he was found to have 60 tubes of what is believed to be testosterone.

 Diallo was released on bail pending his court appearance.

Hill was lodged in Essex County Jail in lieu of $150,000 full cash bail.