Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
FORT WAYNE - Alleged piracy of satellite television could land a Syracuse business owner in federal prison if he's convicted of the charges against him.
Ray Frost, 56, owner of Frost T.V. & Antenna, is charged with distributing 35 satellite television access cards, used primarily for illegally unscrambling satellite cable programming or direct-to-home satellite services.
The "pirate" cards allow people to receive satellite programming without paying monthly fees of $32 or more.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Fort Wayne, Frost was charged Monday after a nationwide sting operation conducted by the U.S. Customs Service.
The U.S. Customs Service began an undercover business in Lynden, Wash., in 1998, as a way to fight the sale and distribution of pirate cards. During the sting, Frost allegedly purchased 35 pirate cards for $3,900 while he was an authorized DIRECTV distributor. Frost also allegedly traded in several pirate satellite cards.
The undercover operation ceased selling the pirate cards in June 1999 and, in July 1999, customs agents interviewing Frost were told that 12 or 13 of the cards were installed for various customers at a charge of $750 each.
The pirated cards sold through the undercover business were disabled via a transmission by DIRECTV, which cooperated with the investigation.
If convicted, Frost faces up to five years in federal prison and fines up to $500,000. A 9:30 a.m. Aug. 25 court date is set for Frost in U.S. District Court.
