Men Charged For Pirated DVD Operation In Suburban Chicago Salon

Cook County, IL, United States (AHN) – Two Chicago-area men have been charged with felonies after a raid of a south suburban nail salon in Chicago found pirated DVD copies of movies currently playing in theaters.

Van Ngo, 56, and Phan Nguyen, 48, were arrested after they sold pirated DVDs to undercover police officers, the Cook County sheriff’s office announced Sunday. The illegally-recorded DVDs sold for $5 each, but the suspects had agreed to let undercover investigators buy in bulk for as little as $2 each.

Officers were able to buy new releases such as “The Hurt Locker,” “Sherlock Holmes” and “Shutter Island.” Suspects responded to a request for “Alice In Wonderland, ” now on its second week as the no. 1 movie nationwide, by saying the movie was not in stock but later provided a copy.

Nguyen, manager of the salon, was charged with three counts of unlawful use of unidentified sound or audio. Ngo was charged with four counts of the same felony.

The raid of P’s Nail Salon in Dolton was conducted Friday. During the police operation, 18 employees were doing manicures and pedicures while new releases were playing on televisions.

More than 1,000 pirated DVDs were seized in the salon, which remains open. Officers also found recording equipment, which Nguyen admitted was his.

Nguyen has been released after posting a $4,000 bond. Ngo remains detained on a 2006 warrant from DuPage County for criminal trespassing. The two men are due in court on Tuesday.

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