Satellite Pirate Gets 14 Months in Federal Prison

A satellite TV pirate has been sentenced to 14 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally rebroadcasting Dish Network’s programming, the satellite provider said Tuesday.

In July 2006, the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a search and seizure of Glenn White’s business office and cable distribution center, Wagram Cable, in Wagram, N.C. The search-and-seizure orders were executed based on findings of piracy and rebroadcasting of Dish Network programming without authorization to Wagram Cable subscribers.

During the search, the FBI seized evidence from both sites. Dish Network receivers containing piracy devices were found at the business office, and numerous Dish Network receivers, some containing piracy devices, were found installed in the cable distribution system.

In November 2007, White reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, resulting in guilty plea for two federal charges. The first charge was for “willfully divulging and publishing intercepted encrypted satellite television signals for private and financial gain.” The second charge was for “manufacturing, assembling, modifying and distributing satellite decryption devices.”

Dish Network vowed to continue to fight those who aid or participate in illegally breaking into encrypted Dish Network TV channels and set-top boxes.