Barry Gitarts, 25, member of the Apocalypse Production Crew (APC), was found guilty on Thursday of criminal copyright infringement. His group is responsible for distributing downloads of a large number of pre-released movies, video games, music files and software applications.

The APC used a server set up in a Texas facility, paid for and administered by Gitarts.

"Music piracy is stealing and, unless you want to end up in a federal prison, don't do it," Chuck Rosenberg, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said in a statement, according to PCWorld.

Gitarts now faces up to five years in jail, a fine of $250,000, three years of probation and also a requirement to make full restitution fot the hundreds of thousands of copies released over the internet.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has repeatedly demanded that the case should be taken to court and Gitarts’ case represents the first federal prosecution of an online criminal copyright infrigement case that has gone to trial.
The statement made by the decision concerns all involved in such activities, showing that the concequences of such acts are not to be taken lightly.

The trial is part of an international effort, started by the U.S. Justice Department and known as "Operation Fastlink," which targets violators of the NET ACT. The act refers to infrigements on copyrights for financial gains, the illegal distribution for music within a six month period and also the distribution of any pre-released content. So far, the act managed to gather 200 search warrants in 15 countries.