The man who supplied illegal subscriptions for premium TV channels is jailed

A man and woman from County Derry have been convicted of offenses relating to offering illegal subscriptions to streaming services worth hundreds of thousands of euros

Cormac McGuckin and Maura McGuckin, both from Bellaghy, were sentenced at Omagh Crown Court on Friday.

The conviction follows an investigation into the sale of illegal subscriptions to television channels and broadcasters, worth more than £700,000.

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On June 4 this year, Cormac McGuckin, aged 38, pleaded guilty to, among other things, participating in fraudulent matters on dates between January 1, 2016 and June 18, 2020.

On June 18, 2020, he also admitted possessing items for use in fraud. He also pleaded guilty to charges of converting criminal property, possessing criminal property and transferring criminal property.

At a hearing last Friday, he was sentenced to four years in prison, half of which would be in prison and the other half on probation.

Also on June 4, Maura McGuckin pleaded guilty to converting criminal property for vacation-related expenses and car payments, and possession of criminal property. The offenses took place between April 21, 2017 and June 18, 2020. The 34-year-old was sentenced to twelve months in prison, of which two years were conditional.

The total amount of money involved in the case was over £700,000

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Detective Sergeant Robinson said: “After being contacted by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), a lengthy and complex investigation was carried out by detectives from the Mid Ulster Criminal Investigation Branch, together with local uniformed officers.

“This was a brazen operation that lasted several years and as if it were a legitimate, legal enterprise. The proceeds were used for multiple car loans for luxury car brands, while there were also several large payments for holiday-related expenses.”

Detective Sergeant Robinson said: “This is not a victimless crime as these types of operations have a direct impact on businesses and consumers and our message to everyone involved in these types of crimes is that it will not be tolerated. police will investigate.

“Users and subscribers of illegal services should also be aware that they too are committing a criminal offense for which they can be identified and prosecuted.

“It is no surprise that those offering illegal streaming are not concerned about your private information, including banking information. The software and devices used to stream the images can be used to collect personal data. That ‘cheap subscription’ could end up costing you a lot of money, even a lot.”

Detective Sergeant Robinson added: “Thank you to FACT, to our district colleagues who assisted in our investigation, and colleagues from other police forces who assisted.”

A confiscation investigation was conducted by the Economic Crime Unit with the aim of seizing the available assets of the defendants. The amount to be confiscated will be determined at a future hearing.

Kieron Sharp, Chief Executive Officer of FACT, said: “Today’s sentencing marks another victory in the ongoing battle against illegal streaming. This operation generated significant profits at the expense of legitimate content owners, undermining the integrity of the creative industries.

“We commend the PSNI for their dedicated efforts in this complex investigation, which highlights the crucial role of law enforcement in protecting intellectual property rights.”