A 29-year-old man from Liverpool, UK, has been sentenced to three years and four months in prison for operating an illegal streaming service using modified Amazon Fire Sticks. He received an additional concurrent sentence of two years and three months for accessing and viewing the pirated content himself.
Jonathan Edge sold Amazon Fire Sticks loaded with illegal streaming services, accepting cash payments to avoid detection. However, his operation was advertised on Facebook, which likely led to the authorities being alerted.
Edge ignored multiple warnings about his illegal activities, a factor that contributed to his sentence. The prosecution was led by the Premier League, supported by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) and Merseyside Police.
“The significant sentence…serves to highlight the severity of his actions. We will continue to pursue legal action against those supplying unauthorised access to Premier League football…” - Kevin Plumb, Premier League General Counsel.
Detective Sergeant Steve Frame of Merseyside Police warned that many people underestimate the severity of illegal streaming, emphasizing that this case should serve as a deterrent.
