Randolph Hobson Guthrie III

law - Randy Guthrie faces 125 years on DVD charges

After spending time in a Chinese prison, getting a compelling story in Wired, Shanghai socialite Randy Guthrie now faces the judicial system in the US for selling illegal DVD's from his penthouse in Shanghai, writes The Clarion Ledger in Mississippi (and probably many more US media will follow). He stands trial in Hattiesburg from 3 Januari.

"What began with counterfeit DVDs being sold at a Harrison County flea market in Pass Christian ... resulted in the first-ever joint intellectual property criminal investigation between the U.S. and the People's Republic of China," U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton said in a statement. The 18-count indictment charges Guthrie with criminal copyright and trademark infringement, illegally importing infringing goods, and money laundering. If convicted on all counts, Guthrie, 38, faces more than 125 years in prison. He was arraigned Tuesday.

Thanks to the internet also for us the story will not be over.