PITTSBURGH - A resident of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of copyright, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Sherry Collingwood, age 60, of New Kensington, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from January 2014, and continuing until March 2017, Collingwood willfully infringed the copyright of one or more copyrighted works, to include "Blue Bloods," "Vikings," "Dexter," "True Blood," "Breaking Bad," and "Californication," and other television shows and motion pictures that have been released for sale to the public. She did this by reproducing and distributing for private financial gain, ten or more copies of one or more copyrighted works during a 180-day period. The copies have a total retail value of more than $2,500..
Judge Ambrose scheduled sentencing for Oct. 29, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Robert S. Cessar is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Collingwood.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
