Casey was a music lover with a huge collection of CDs that she had built up during high school. But when Casey went off to college she found all her money going to rent and bills rather than CDs. Soon she found a new way to satisfy her music habit. She joined online file-sharing communities and quickly became a popular trader due to her extensive music collection. As her collection grew, her computer attracted more and more attention from other music lovers, and eventually from the law.
"One day, I was sitting at my desk doing homework when I heard a loud knock at the door. There were five or six guys with dark uniforms and badges standing there, carrying huge guns," she remembers. It was the FBI. A federal task force had come across her collection on the 'Net and begun an investigation. They confiscated her computer, and found tens of thousands of music files. Even the files she legally owned got her in trouble, because she distributed them to others.
Because of her young age and clean criminal record, Casey was charged with a low level felony. After her conviction, she was given a three month deferred jail sentence with three years probation and 200 hours of community service. She was also ordered to pay a $5,400 fine. "I never thought sharing music was such a big deal. I had no idea I could go to jail for it." She adds, "I just hope others will be more careful."
To learn how to share files safely, see File Sharing
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