LAKELAND, Fla. – Based on consumer complaints received from shoppers at the International Market World Flea Market near Auburndale, Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives began an investigation related to the sale of electronic devices marketed as a way to steal internet communications services using “jail broken” Amazon Fire TV Sticks.
On December 19, 2020, Polk County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations detectives arrested four individuals at the International Market World Flea Market (1052 US Hwy 92 West, Auburndale) for selling “jail broken” Amazon Fire Sticks.
“Jail broken” refers to modifying an electronic device with added software and plugins in such a way that it allows the user to view movies and TV shows (internet-based digital content) they would have had to pay for. Essentially, the devises allow people to steal internet communications services.
PCSO detectives discovered “jail broken” Fire Sticks were being sold at the International Market World Flea Market that would allow access to internet based streaming services for “free” and without expressed authorization of the communications service provider and without payment for the services.
“Just as retail crime affects the consumer by driving up the cost of goods, stealing content from internet streaming companies drives up the cost of those services, negatively impacting the consumer’s wallet. Consumers beware, there really is not an honest way to get something for nothing.'” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Lorinda Marlene Holm, 71, from Lakeland sold two illegal Fire Sticks to undercover detectives at the cost of $107 each. Holm told detectives that she “jail breaks” the devices herself and even “jail breaks” regular Fire Sticks customers may bring her. She also provided a live tutorial of how the unauthorized Fire Sticks operate. Holm is charged with Advertise to Promote the Sale of Intercept Device (F3).
Bongwoo Roe, 88, from Lakeland sold three illegal Fire Sticks to undercover detectives (2 at the cost of $85 each, one for $90). Roe also provided the detectives with a live tutorial of how the unauthorized Fire Sticks operate.
Roe is not “jail breaking” the devices himself. He is charged with Advertise to Promote the Sale of Intercept Device (F3).
Luis Gabriel Vazquez, 34, from Lakeland sold three illegal Fire Sticks to undercover detectives for $80 each. During the purchase, Vazquez told detectives he “jail breaks” the devices himself, and provided the detectives a tutorial of how the unauthorized Fire Sticks operate. He is charged with Advertise to Promote the Sale of Intercept Device (F3). Vazquez’s criminal history includes Battery, Giving a False Name to a Law Enforcement Officer, Driving on a Suspended Driver’s License, and a Failure to Appear.
Grace Yarbrough, 59, from Lakeland sold three illegal Fire Sticks to undercover detectives for $100 each. Yarbrough told detectives that she “jail breaks” the Fire Sticks herself, and provided the detectives a tutorial of how the unauthorized Fire Sticks operate. She is charged with Advertise to Promote the Sale of Intercept Device (F3).
Looks like the department just wanted a bunch of these devices for themselves. Stacked up, what, about 8 of ’em?
Good Job by PCPD. Anything that’s ilegal, should not be allow.
This is ridiculous 🤣. Not 1 single charge for. Copyright infringement or theft of intellectual property. Why? Well because a Jailbroken fire tv stick is simply the stock device Amazon sells with a perfectly legal software application called kodi or some similar app already installed and configured for the user. Charging the seller is like charging gun dealers with murder simply because they sell a product that is capable of killing. The cable companies have been coming after us that have chosen to find alternatives to paying their ridiculously overpriced subpar cable. Television. Users will still need to subscribe to thier wifi.r