U.S. Marshals Nab Camcorder Pirate

LOS ANGELES -- Johnny Ray Gasca, the first person charged by the federal government with illegally camcording a film, was arrested April 5 near Orlando, Fla., by U.S. Marshals after more than a year of eluding authorities. He was wanted on charges of criminal copyright infringement, conspiracy, identity theft, witness retaliation and failure to appear.

Gasca was first arrested in September 2003, when he was caught recording "The Core" at a screening sponsored by Paramount and was charged with misdemeanor burglary. He was eventually released on bond but was arrested again in early 2004 at a preview of "Anger Management."

A search of Gasca's apartment led to the seizure of extensive recording equipment and a written record of his activities. He later confessed to camcording at least six films in Los Angeles and New York. He escaped from his lawyer's custody.

Dan Glickman, president/CEO of the Motion Picture Assn. of America, says in a statement, "We applaud the FBI and the U.S. Marshal's office in Orlando, Fla., for capturing nationally known criminal Johnny Ray Gasca. Johnny Ray Gasca is a fugitive who has no respect for the law. [This] arrest sends a clear message to those engaging in copyright theft. Namely, there is nowhere to hide, and you will be caught."

The MPAA estimates that its member companies lose more than $3.5 billion in potential revenue annually due to illegal copying of films.