A Chinese businessman in the U.S. was found guilty of selling stolen software reported to be worth $100 million. U.S. officials say that the stolen software was to be used in programs related to space technology, defense, and engineering. The court filing reveals that the software was stolen from an estimated number of 200 manufacturers in the U.S. They were eventually sold to around 325 black markets in 61 countries between the year 2008 to 2011.
The businessman, Xiang Li, was arrested last year on the Pacific island of Saipan, near Guam, in June last year, during an undercover operation conducted by agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Xiang Li pleaded guilty to conspiracy of committing criminal copyright violations and wire fraud. “I want to tell the court that what I did was wrong and illegal and I want to say I’m sorry,” he told the court on Monday.
The pirated software that Li sold ranged from a few hundred dollars to more than $1 million each. These were sophisticated business software and high-priced products. Li sold these online via Crack99.com and other sites that he owned. The actual software titles were not named.