CD Store Owner Arrested for Counterfeiting C.D.s

1,100 Counterfeit CD’s found in Westbury store

MINEOLA, NY - Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that Alvaro Arroyo, 41, has been arrested and charged with Advertisement or Sale of Unauthorized Recordings in the First Degree, a Class E felony.  Mr. Arroyo owned and operated La Feria Musical Multi Service, a music store located at 477 Maple Avenue in Westbury.  The store primarily sells Latin C.D.s and music videos. 

A person is guilty of advertising or sale of unauthorized recordings in the first degree when such person commits the crime of advertisement or sale of unauthorized recordings in the second degree as defined in section 275.25 of this article and commission of that crime involves at least one thousand unauthorized sound recordings or at least one hundred unauthorized audiovisual recordings (PL §275.30). 

A person is guilty of advertising or sale of unauthorized recordings in the second degree when such person knowingly advertises, offers for sale, resale, or rental, or sells, resells, rents, distributes or possesses for any such purposes, any recording that has been produced or transferred without the consent of the owner; provided however, that this section shall only apply to sound recordings initially fixed prior to February 15, 1972 (PL §275.25).

The New York State Police and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) received information that the store was selling counterfeit and pirated compact disks (CDs).  The two agencies began a joint investigation into these claims and initially made two undercover buys from the music store. 

Following the undercover buys, the New York State Police and the RIAA referred the case to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office for further investigation and prosecution. 

The C.D.s were identified by RIAA investigators.

A search warrant was signed by County Court Judge Joseph C. Calabrese on April 24, 2006, and executed on April 25, 2006 by Investigators from the New York State Police and the RIAA.  Items seized from La Feria as a result of the search include, 1157 counterfeit C.D.s, 162 counterfeit music videos, a computer, business records, raw C.D. materials and finished products.

The case is being handled by ADA Robert Owens of the Economic Crimes Bureau of the District Attorney’s Office.  The defendant will be arraigned later today in First District Court, Hempstead.

District Attorney Rice would like to thank the New York State Police, Special Investigations Unit, and the Recording Industry Association of America for their involvement in the investigation.

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Name: Alvaro Arroyo
Age: 41
Address: 433 Cedar Street, West Hempstead, NY
Charges: Advertisement or Sale of Unauthorized Recordings 1°