The owner of the popular Droidsticks brand has been given a prison sentence. This is due to his involvement in selling illegal set-top boxes.
Halton Mark Anthony Powell began selling these illicit TV boxes in 2013. He utilized his website, a retail store, and online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon.
These Android boxes were marketed as “fully loaded”. They came pre-installed with Kodi and Powell’s own software, the Droidsticks Wizard.
The wizard included third-party add-ons for unlawful content. This provided free access to live TV channels among other things.
The UK Police Force, in particular the PIPCU (Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit), took notice of the devices.
Investigators began monitoring Powell’s activities in March 2015, culminating in a raid in June 2016.
Authorities targeted Powell’s store and a storage unit. They uncovered over 1,300 illegal media devices.
Powell’s bank records were also examined. They indicated that he made over 2.3 million euros. This came from the sale of over 24,000 streaming devices.
This ultimately resulted in Powell’s arrest. He refused to answer any questions, only saying “no comment”.
After over six years, Powell finally admitted guilt in August 2022 at Southwark Crown Court. He pleaded guilty to supplying articles for use in fraud.
Halton Powell was sentenced on November 11, 2022. He received a two-year and six-month prison sentence for his part in the operation.
Detective Sergeant Petr Gartland of London’s PIPCU made a statement. It was part of a press release from the City of London Police.
Powell made attempts to hide the illegal side of his business. He concealed evidence that he sold products configured to stream Sky Sports and Sky Cinema. But PIPCU officers were able to demonstrate his awareness. They proved he knew thousands of customers were using the boxes for this purpose.
You can access the full press release through the link provided below.
Man jailed for making over £2 million from illegally pre-configured TV set-top boxes
TROYPOINT strongly advises against set-top boxes pre-loaded with apps and add-ons.
It’s recommended to buy legitimate streaming devices. The Amazon Firestick and Fire TV are good options. They are currently the most popular media devices available.
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