FBI seizes US$80 million in Microsoft counterfeit products

Microsoft this week said the FBI has arrested 11 people and seized more than US$80 million worth of counterfeit software, making the three-state bust the largest ever involving fake Microsoft products.

The late-August arrests and seizures were the result of a two-year investigation by the FBI and involved suspects in California, Washington and Texas, the software maker said. A US federal grand jury returned indictments against the suspects this week.

The 11 suspects are accused of participating in a wide variety of software piracy operations, including unauthorised media replication, printing of counterfeit documentation and distribution of counterfeit software.

"We are immensely appreciative of law enforcement's efforts," Rich LaMagna, director of worldwide investigations for the digital integrity group at Microsoft, said in a statement.

"We are immensely appreciative of law enforcement's efforts. With this type of teamwork, we can successfully address cyber-crime and fight the 21st century tactics of today's criminals."

Among the suspects indicted were Tobias Grace and Sanh Thai, who are accused of setting up a counterfeit replication site in the Los Angeles area. Thanh Tuong is accused of printing counterfeit documentation in San Francisco for Microsoft products, and Grace's sister, Arnica Grace, is accused of being a distributor.