SATELLITE TELEVISION PIRACY:
DTH DEALERS ARRESTED BY THE RCMP
IN THE CHICOUTIMI AREA

CHICOUTIMI, Friday, May 30, 2003 - Yesterday in Chicoutimi, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police put an end to the unlawful activities of local individuals who were selling equipment used to illegally receive satellite television signals. The RCMP, in conjunction with Industry Canada and Film and Video Security Office, arrested five subjects.

They are: Éric Tremblay, 33, residing on Durivage Street in Shipshaw; Éric Savard, 32, residing on Joliette Street in Chicoutimi; Patrice Landry, 26, residing on Truchon Street in Jonquière; Clément Bouchard, 55, residing on Boily Street in Chicoutimi, and Michaël Desgagné, 28, residing on Gounod Street in Chicoutimi.

These people have been charged with selling, through various means, smart cards used to steal cable television and satellite dish signals. This ring had the capability of selling illegal equipment across North America.

As a result of searches conducted at the subjects' places of residence, the investigators seized software equipment, Bell Express Vu access cards, fifteen computers, other types of satellite television piracy equipment as well as four motor vehicles. The sale of illegal satellite equipment is an offence under the Radiocommunication Act.

It should be noted that the Radiocommunication Act deals with the theft of telecommunication signals and forbids any unauthorized decoding of television signals.

The consequences of this illegal activity include a loss of revenues for the Government of Canada, an adverse impact on the Canadian culture, reduced business opportunities for Canadian satellite service suppliers, and a lack of support by US service suppliers for Canadian television programming and talent.

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Information

Jean-Paul Lupien, Corporal
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(418) 698-5666