Florida man stationed at Shaw AFB illegally sold access codes to Dish Network, Sling TV streaming services, DOJ says

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) – A Florida man previously stationed at Shaw Air Force Base was sentenced to a year and one day in federal prison after pleading guilty to providing illegal access to digital streaming services.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina said evidence presented in court revealed that 40-year-old Frankin Valverde Jr., of Melbourne, Florida, made hundreds of thousands of dollars by selling access codes to people that allowed them to view the entire video libraries from Dish Network and Sling TV.

Valverde, now retired, was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter when he became involved in the scheme. Evidence shows that he sold access codes, for $10 per month, allowing customers to access all copyrighted content from the streaming services, including pay-per-view sporting events, movies, and television programs.

He also provided his customers with websites and apps so they could view the copyrighted materials.

Officials believe Valverde’s conviction to be the first in the nation under the “Protecting Lawful Streaming Act” (PLSA), introduced in Congress in 2020 as a provision of the COVID-19 Stimulus Bill.

Its purpose is to punish commercial, for-profit streaming piracy services that make money from illegally streaming copyrighted material. It does not criminalize users of the illegal apps.

United States District Judge Mary G. Lewis sentenced Valverde to 12 months and one day in federal prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. He was also ordered to pay $22,639.27 in restitution, plus a fine of $250,000.

The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case.