As a part of its continuing battle against satellite signal "piracy", Pegasus Satellite Television worked with state and local law enforcement agencies in the arrest and conviction of a Dallas, GA, man on several piracy related charges.
The pirate had been going door-to-door, disguised as a DIRECTV employee, switching out subscribers' access cards. The valid access cards were then reprogrammed and sold as hacked cards. The pirate targeted subscribers throughout the rural areas of Georgia during his campaign.
The man was charged in two Georgia courts on a total of 19 counts, consisting of financial transaction card theft, computer forgery, and theft by deception. The courts sentenced the pirate to ten years' probation and to make a $20,000 payment.
The payment was paid on the date of sentencing and will be used to compensate the victims of the crime spree and to pay various fines and surcharges.
Pegasus has hired a team of private investigators to track leads, build cases and aid local law enforcement and state law enforcement in the ongoing battle against satellite signal theft in the satellite industry.
Pegasus periodically conducts advertising campaigns designed to educate consumers on the legal ramifications of purchasing and/or using illegally modified access cards.
"Consumers should be made aware that neither Pegasus nor DIRECTV have representatives that go door-to-door to switch out access cards," said Scott Blank, Pegasus General Counsel. "Our team of investigators and state and local law enforcement are working hard to put an end to satellite signal theft."
