Kristopher Dallmann, Douglas Courson, Felipe Garcia, Jared Jaurequi, and Peter Huber were found guilty by a federal jury in Las Vegas of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement.Dallmann, the group’s leader, faces additional charges of money laundering.
“The group reproduced hundreds of thousands of copyrighted television episodes without authorisation, amassing a catalogue larger than the combined catalogues of Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, and Amazon Prime,” the US Department of Justice said in a statement.
Jetflicks operated much like legitimate streaming services. Subscribers could watch content on various devices with internet access. The service even boasted about its extensive library, claiming users could watch almost any show or movie “Anytime. Anywhere.”
Jetflicks outgrew Netflix and other streaming sites
The men used computer programs to automatically search and download TV shows and movies from pirate websites. They then made this stolen content available on their own servers, creating a massive library of entertainment.
To keep up with new releases, Jetflicks often made TV episodes available the day after they aired on television. This quick turnaround rivalled official streaming platforms.
When facing pressure from copyright holders, the group tried to disguise their operation.
“When complaints from copyright holders and problems with payment service providers threatened to topple the illicit multimillion-dollar enterprise, the defendants tried to disguise Jetflicks as an aviation entertainment company,” said FBI assistant director David Sundberg.
The service was highly profitable. According to court documents, Dallmann once bragged in an online chat that Jetflicks made $750,000 in a single year.
However, unlike Netflix or Amazon Prime, Jetflicks didn’t pay for the right to stream this content. “Their scheme generated millions of dollars in criminal profits, while causing copyright owners to lose out,” said Nicole Argentieri, a Department of Justice official.
The FBI started investigating Jetflicks in 2016, using undercover agents to subscribe to the service and document its illegal activities. The operation was finally shut down in 2019 when charges were filed.
Now, Dallmann may face up to 48 years in prison, while the other four men each face up to 5 years. Their sentencing date has not been set yet.
