An employee at a DVD manufacturing and distribution company based in Memphis has pleaded guilty to charges of criminal copyright infringement and firearm possession, according to a U.S. Attorney's office announcement. Steven R. Hale, a 37-year-old Memphis resident, entered his plea on May 27, 2025, in front of Chief Judge Sheryl H. Lipman at the United States District Court.
From February 2021 to March 2022, Hale managed to quickly steal and sell pre-release DVDs and Blu-rays, which included in-demand titles like “F9: The Fast Saga” and “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” among others. His schemes led to an illicit circulation of these films on the internet, notably "Spider-Man: No Way Home," which was downloaded tens of millions of times, causing severe financial damage to the copyright owners.
Alongside the copyright infringement conviction, Hale also faced charges for the possession of a Sarsilmaz 9mm firearm. This was in breach of the law due to his previous felony record for armed robbery. The plea agreement outlines his commitment to making full restitution to his victims and returning approximately 1,160 stolen DVDs and Blu-rays.
The investigation, which involved efforts from the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Memphis Police Department, signifies a significant crackdown on illegal copying and distribution within the industry. Hale is now set to be sentenced on August 29, 2025, with the fact in mind that there is no parole in the federal system.
Prosecution of the case is being handled by Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti and Trial Attorney Debra Ireland of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin for the Western District of Tennessee.
