LOS ANGELES — A man who ran an Internet file-sharing hub where computer users could swap movie, music and software files has pleaded guilty to grand theft, prosecutors said Friday.
Jed Frederick Kobles, 34, pleaded guilty to a single felony count. His conviction represents the first in a criminal Internet file-sharing case in the state, according to the Los Angeles County’s district attorney’s office. Kobles, who lived in Los Angeles when he was arrested, has since moved to Las Vegas.
According to the original complaint against Kobles, he operated an online file-sharing hub known as UTB Smokinghouse under the name Raging8.
Over four days in January, Kobles and other unidentified conspirators made films like "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," and "National Treasure" available on the Internet for others to download without permission.
To have access to the free content on Kobles’ hub, computer users had to have their own selection of content that they were willing to make available. An undercover investigator who gained entry into the file-sharing ring downloaded more than 14 movies, TV shows and music videos, prosecutors said.
Kobles faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 20.
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