DA: Man made $200,000 selling counterfeit software

An Islip man made more than $200,000 by selling hundreds of copies of counterfeit computer software at deep discounts to unsuspecting buyers, Nassau prosecutors said Friday.

Justin Perez, 29, pleaded not guilty Friday in First District Court in Hempstead to three counts of trademark counterfeiting and one count of scheme to defraud. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

Perez was held on $10,000 bond or $6,500 cash bail. He is due back in court Oct. 25.

Prosecutors said that since September 2008, Perez sold fake versions of software by Microsoft, Adobe and other manufacturers through a website that offered the products at discounts. A copy of Adobe Photoshop that normally sells for $950 went for $175, prosecutors said.

Investigators found phony software worth $50,000, based on normal prices, at Perez's home when he was arrested, Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice's office said.

Perez's activities came to the attention of Nassau prosecutors when Microsoft said it had received complaints from customers who had bought software from him, Rice's office said. The customers said they could not download upgrades from the Microsoft website, prosecutors said.

Counterfeit software may contain viruses or spyware that can compromise data and personal information, prosecutors said.

An attorney for Perez could not be reached for comment Friday.