Tag: crime

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Federal Agents Raid And Nail Gay Porn Bootlegger

Urban gay producer Pitbull Productions announced last week that its legal action against a New York City Bookstore yielded in excess of 10,000 counterfeit DVDs. The early morning raid of March 17, 2010 ordered by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and conducted by a team of U.S. Marshals raided and seized the inventory from the defendant, B&B Bookstore at 116 Christopher Street, New York, NY. Pitbull served a civil lawsuit against the retailer for engaging in the duplication, importation, distribution, and/or sale of unauthorized merchandise infringing upon copyrighted and trademarked properties. The complaint was filed in Federal Court for the Southern District of New York and signed by Judge Andrew J. Peck. The action resulted in a broadening investigation that eventually uncovered the counterfeiter, Pitbull executive vice president Bruce Fleming said. “Pitbull worked tirelessly to obtain sufficient evidence for the Federal Court to approve the raid, including long-term undercover operations which yielded information that many of the major adult gay movie studios had DVDs that were being bootlegged.” The company said that among claims asserted are those under the Latham act “…for causing confusion, mistake and deception …”and that the defendants had unlawfully used Plaintiff’s “trademarks and copyrights in interstate commerce.” It is the infringement of trademark which constitutes false designation and false advertising, Pitbull said. The company seeks to determine all parties, persons and entities involved in the counterfeiting, illegal distribution and sale of their DVDs. “These egregious acts of corporate terrorism will not be tolerated and the Plaintiffs have implored every legal means at their disposal to apprehend and prosecute all those involved,” Fleming said. Pitbull said it was granted a sweeping order from the Federal Court in New York restraining the defendants from the sale of the counterfeit DVDs and the Court also ordered the U.S. Marshals to seize and raid the establishment for purposes of confiscating the counterfeit DVDs, including computers, duplicating equipment, etc. Forensic computer technicians will analyze the contents of all computers seized in the raid. The Court also asked that a Pitbull executive accompany the U.S. Marshals to help identify all goods to be seized. “The increased proliferation of counterfeit merchandise and DVD piracy of adult male entertainment properties has gone on for far too long,” Fleming said. He added, “The time has come to take a stand against the flood of cheap knockoffs and blatant bootlegs. The vendors who sell pirated DVDs are causing huge economic losses for legitimate businesses.” The company is urging consumers and retailers to contact Pitbull at support@pitbullproductions.com to report other retailers or distributors suspected of selling counterfeit DVDs.

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"Slick Nick" ... Man Who Targeted Gay Men Online, Sent To Prison

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LAPD VICE STING: More Men Having Sex In Public Parks Get Busted

An increase in males having sex in public parks in northeast Los Angeles has resulted in more of them being arrested on suspicion of performing lewd acts, Los Angeles police vice officers said today. More than 90 males were arrested in 2009 -- up from 75 in 2008 -- on suspicion of lewd conduct in the Northeast area, including Elysian Park, Griffith Park and Sycamore Grove Park, and police want to curtail the trend. "We took two stations out on an undercover operation," LAPD Vice Sgt. Lisa Phillips said at a news conference today. "The whole purpose, intention and goal of this operation is to get the word out to the community at large that this is a serious problem." During the news conference, police showed video of arrests made by undercover officers. The video also showed park areas littered with used condoms. "Many participants have been arrested frequently for the same activity and claim to be married and heterosexual," according to a police statement. Police warned that some of the males have been assaulted and robbed by gang members during their sexual encounters.Other park users are complaining about the public sexual encounters, police said. "Numerous complaints from people utilizing the parks for jogging, picnics, bicycling and similar activities are also a contributing factor," the statement said. Police also expressed concern that some of those arrested had engaged in unsafe sex, which increases the risk of spreading sexually transmitted diseases.

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Man Arrested for Threatening Elton John’s Life

Elton John has a famous fan in Lady Gaga, but not everyone appreciates the awesome power of “Tiny Dancer.” A Georgia man was arrested Wednesday for making terrorist threats against Sir Elton. Last month Neal Horsley, 65, posted a YouTube video of himself standing in front of the singer’s Atlanta apartment complex holding a large red sign that said “Elton John Must Die.” Horsley was upset about a Parade magazine interview in which John said he thought Jesus was a “compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems.” “We’re here today to remind Elton John that he has to die,” Horsley says in the video. “What Elton John has done is desecrated the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, blasphemed the Lord Jesus Christ.” He goes on to use homophobic slurs and quote scripture. This isn’t the first time Horsley — who has a surprisingly thorough Wikipedia page — has raised eyebrows. A militant anti-abortionist, he started a Website in the late 1990s that listed the names and addresses of doctors who performed abortions. Two years ago, Horsley founded the Creator’s Rights Party in Georgia and claims to be a candidate for the 2010 governor’s race. According to the AP, he kicked off his campaign wearing a placard showing a picture of an aborted fetus. The state ethics committee, meanwhile, has no record of his campaign. Horsley’s bail is set at $40,000. Elton John’s publicist confirmed that the singer has an apartment in Atlanta, but wouldn’t tell the AP anything more.

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1959 Conviction Still Haunts Gay Man Seeking Work

LONDON, ENGLAND (Associated Press) — He was convicted of a crime more than half a century ago, but what he did in 1959 — have consensual sex with another man — would be perfectly legal today. So John Crawford, 70, wants his criminal record cleaned up for good, so that he doesn't have to disclose his conviction when he seeks volunteer work, and because of a deeply held belief that he should not be punished for his sexual orientation. "I came into this world without a criminal record and I'd like to leave this world without one," said Crawford, a retired butler. "The police beat me and beat me and forced me to confess to being gay, but I know in my heart I did nothing wrong." Crawford's bid to clean up his record is backed by gay organizations looking to help others who were convicted under Britain's once draconian anti-homosexuality laws, which began to be eased in 1967 as social values changed and sex acts between consenting adults began to be decriminalized. "These laws were homophobic in the first place, that's why they were rescinded, but the laws are still penalizing people," said Deborah Gold, director of Galop, a gay rights group that has helped Crawford. "We've always had a regular trickle of people asking about it, how to get their records cleaned up." She said Crawford suffered horrific treatment from the police and should not have to disclose his criminal conviction when seeking employment or volunteer work. His lawyers wrote to Justice Secretary Jack Straw last week asking that the law be changed so that Crawford and others in his position would not have to disclose their convictions during the job interview process. If no action is taken by March 12, attorneys will seek a formal judicial review because the policy is not compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, said lawyer Anna Mazzola. "John Crawford wants to do it, to change the law for other people," she said. "Others are in exactly the same position. The justice secretary has the power to do this, without going through Parliament." Mazzola's firm has also filed a freedom of information request for data about the number of people convicted of consensual sexual offenses that would now be legal. "I think there are quite a lot," she said. Crawford's legal campaign has already been productive. In response to a letter from his lawyers, police have removed the record of his conviction from the criminal database, meaning it will not turn up during a computerized criminal records search. "We are very sympathetic to Mr. Crawford's concerns," said a Hampshire police spokesman, who asked not to be identified under department policy. "We recognize that this is an exceptional case and have acted quickly to resolve it." The spokesman said the conviction is no longer relevant and has been taken out of the Police National Computer database. The special ruling applies only to Crawford, however, not to other gay or bisexual men with similar offenses in their past. This welcome decision removes one substantial obstacle Crawford faces in his retirement as he pursues voluntary positions, such as hospital work where he would be helping to feed ill people. He is not satisfied, however, because he is still legally required to reveal the 1959 episode when asked if he has ever been convicted of any criminal offense. This happens frequently on questionnaires when applying for volunteer work with vulnerable persons. "I think it's ridiculous," Crawford said. His lingering anger comes in part from the humiliation he suffered at the hands of police officers in 1959. He said they abused him physically and harassed him with vulgar taunts, then coerced him into pleading guilty by threatening to continue beating him if he did not cooperate. As a result of that plea, he said he was saddled with a conviction that would not have been possible otherwise, especially since he was not accused of having sex in public. "I wanted to plead not guilty, and the case would have been thrown out and I wouldn't be talking about it now," Crawford said. "Until the police drop it completely, I won't be happy. I've got to be able to put my hand on my heart and say to the world, I haven't got a criminal record, and I can't say that now."

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Three Charged With Hate Crime For Alleged Anti-Gay Attack On Train

Three Evanston, Illinois men are charged with a hate crime for an attack on a man they perceived to be gay, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's office. (Photo left to right Sean Little, Benjamin Eder, Kevin McAndrew) The attack happened January 10 on a CTA Red Line train. The three men allegedly began making "anti-gay" remarks to a passenger. Another passenger got involved and the men then physically attacked him. Prosecutors say the men beat the 33-year-old victim and called him "faggot" and other derogatory terms. The fight spilled out to the platform when the train stopped at the Argyle Station and police came and broke it up. The men charged are Sean Little, 21, Benjamin Eder, 23, and Kevin McAndrew, 23. They were originally charged with misdemeanor battery. The hate crime charges were filed yesterday. If convicted, they face a maximum 5 year sentence. “The damage of a crime such as this goes well beyond the original victim and permeates the entire community," said State's Attorney Anita Alvarez in a press release. "These crimes are taken seriously and they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” Bond for each suspect was set at $10,000.

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Pornstar Cody Kyler Attacked and Robbed in South Beach, Florida

Gay Pornstar Cody Kyler was attacked,robbed and had his iPhone stolen last night in South Beach Florida. The popular 19 year old Flavaworks performer/videographer Tweeted about the incident and posted the photo of cuts & bruises on his face to his Twitpic account. Cody Kyler is no tourist, Flava Works Florida office/studio is nearby and he certainly knows his way around the club and beach scene. I am reminded that another pornster Krist Cummings was robbed just this past November (Ft Lauderdale) Add the anecdotal story's and Twit message about the rough and surly criminal element on the beaches of South Florida and you see Codys attack is not an isolated incident. Researching this story tonight I noticed the shear number of recent and disturbing crime story's emanating form South Beach and Miami. The story of the LA resident who returned to Miami to visit his old hometown, witnessed two undercover Miami Police kicking a handcuffed suspect in the head which resulted in his life being threatened by the rogue officers. Read  I’m scared to return to Florida after being arrested on false charge by two Miami Beach cops! In Mid January the Miami New Times ran an article titled Gays leave unfriendly South Beach for Fort Lauderdale. Yet up "gay friendly" Ft Lauderdale way,  this past week a 65 year old black women (and local resident) is attacked, kicked and bruised by two white males screaming "nigger what are you doing on our beach?" on the upscale, predominantly white beach in Boca Raton. Review of hate-crime beating. Should Gay Tourists visit South Beach Florida? Has South Beach become Hate Beach Florida? Is the Gold Coast becoming the Crime Coast? A quick look at crime statistics and newspaper story's paints a picture of a South Florida that is ever more homophobic,racist and just plain violent! I know some residents tell me South Beach and Miami have been this way for years. Add homophobic and rogue police to the mix and an image of a place no gay or (or black apparently) tourist would want to visit emerges. Indeed there are much safer and welcoming beaches and tourist meccas than the Gold Coast! 74 miles of San Diego County beaches, fully public and some of the most crime free real estate in any major USA metroplitan area come to mind! Questioning South Beach’s Status as a Gay Mecca?

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Gay-Bashing Suspect Tracked, Turns Out Suspect is US Military Hero

Last September DJ Blake Hayes (pictured left), and cabaret and Broadway performer Danny Calvert were attacked outside of McCoy's Bar in Hell's Kitchen, along with their friend Alec Bell. They claimed a man flicked a cigarette at them while saying, "Keep moving, faggots." When the trio quipped about the man's bald head, he became enraged, physically assaulted them, and said, "Die of AIDS, you fucking queers." To add insult to injury, the police officers who showed up refused to take their attacker's information, or let them file a claim, and the bouncer who witnessed the attack allowed the man back into the bar. After City Council Speaker Christine Quinn spoke up on behalf of the vicitms of the bias attack, Police Commissioner Kelly’s office agreed to conduct an investigation. Now, the Daily News reports that it's turned into an international investigation, with the NYPD having tracked down the suspect, Air Force Staff Sgt. Benjamin Ford (pictured right), in England. Ford's job is "to help protect the President and other world leaders," and he was in town last September when Obama was speaking at the UN. An NYPD detective stationed in London tracked Ford down after he was fingered as the suspect by the Hate Crimes Task Force, and Ford admitted to being on the scene that night, but says Hayes, Calvert and Bell started the fight. It was all caught on tape, however, and allegedly that footage shows Ford as the one to lash out. While Ford has yet to be formally charged, officials say that the U.S. military plan to try him and serve up the appropriate punishment if he is found guilty.

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Patrons' Tires Slashed Outside Orlando Gay Nightclub

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that patrons of one of Orlando, Florida's  popular gay nightclub said the tire-slashing of more than two dozen cars goes beyond an act of criminal mischief. Some said it smacks of a hate crime. "There are cars at the nearby apartments, and I have not heard of any tire slashing happening there Monday night," Revolution patron Miguel de Arias said Tuesday. "It's been Latino gay night here for years, and someone had to know that to do what they did." Monday night at Revolution is billed as an evening catering mostly to Hispanic gays and lesbians. Orlando Police aren't ready to classify the incident as a hate crime, spokeswoman Sgt. Barbara Jones said. It is considered a criminal mischief case because there is no proof that it meets state hate-crime standards. State law defines a hate crime as any criminal acts that show prejudice based on race, religion, ethnicity, color, ancestry, sexual orientation or national origin. Orlando police reports show someone slashed and deflated the tires of nearly 30 vehicles parked in a lot along South Street, east of Bumby Avenue, sometime Monday night or early Tuesday morning. The slashings occurred despite the fact the club pays two off-duty Orlando police officers $35 an hour to patrol areas around the club and the fact surveillance cameras monitor activity in the lot, Revolution owner Craig Mestel said. Many of the club's patrons park in that lot, which is not owned or maintained by the owners of the nightclub. Some car owners paid a tow truck to remove their vehicles; others left their disabled cars in the lot. Mestel said he is temporarily contracting with a private agency to add more security. If detectives confirm the tire-slashing incident as a hate crime, it will be the second such crime in the city in the past two months. Orlando police reports show someone defaced the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Community Center and the gay-owned Ritzy Rags, both on Mills Avenue, with a spray-painted swastika and anti-gay slurs in November. Police estimated the damage in that incident cost about $1,000. READ MORE OF THE STORY HERE

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Beware Of 'Street Trade' In San Diego! Police Seek Thief Targeting Gay Men

San Diego, California Police are asking for the public’s help to identify a thief who appears to be targeting gay men at a Hillcrest bar according to the Union Tribune. The suspect, who has identified himself as “Paul” or “John,” has picked up at least two men on separate occasions Dec. 2 and 18 at Urban Mo’s on University Avenue near Third Avenue, San Diego police said. The victims, who were in their 30s, ended up inviting the suspect back to their homes in North Park and Bankers Hill. When they woke up, they discovered that items such as laptops, cash, credit cards and Chargers gear had been stolen. Investigators believe the suspect may have slipped drugs into his victims’ drinks to knock them out. The thief is described as black, in his 20s, between 6 feet 1 inch to 6 feet 3 inches tall, about 170 pounds, bald, with a thin build and a gold earring in his left ear. Anyone with information can call police at (619) 744-9500 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by sending a message through the Web site www.sdcrimestoppers.com or by calling (888) 580-8477. Tipsters may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.