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Cable box turn-in
deadline is today

People using pirate boxes
face suits or prosecution

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By Treena Shapiro
Star-Bulletin

Today is the deadline to turn in pirate cable boxes for amnesty from lawsuit or prosecution, but cable companies aren't expecting a last-minute rush to turn in the devices.

Tens of thousands of illegal devices used to steal premium and pay-per-view programming have been sold in Hawaii, said Kit Beuret, spokesman for Oceanic Cablevision and the Hawaii Cable Television Association.

"We have a list of people who have bought these devices," he said. "If it turns out that we go after these people, amnesty provides them a chance to clean the slate before any action is taken."

Only a few people have taken advantage of the amnesty offer, which began Aug. 1.

Owners of illegal boxes are subject to lawsuits brought by cable companies or criminal prosecution in federal court. Those found guilty of using or distributing the pirated equipment could face penalties of a $1,000 fine and six months in jail to a $50,000 fine and two years in jail.

But Oceanic has never taken legal action against anyone who simply possesses a single pirate box. "We do communicate with them, talk to them about it, and usually we retrieve (the descramblers)," Beuret said. "People are pretty good about turning them in once they learn they're illegal."

This amnesty program, like others in the past, follows the bust of a major distributor.

Anyone on the lists turned in by busted dealers can expect to be contacted by letter or in person.

"We'll follow up on all the leads they give us. If you bought one from one of these dealers, you will be hearing from us," Beuret said.

In April, a 45-year-old Salt Lake man, Michael Van Hohenstein, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for 63 counts of conspiracy to sell illegal cable boxes, money laundering and tax evasion.

Van Hohenstein also forfeited more than $1 million, equipment for the illegal business and a 1995 auto. In 1997, he had been ordered to pay $10,000 in damages to Oceanic.

Van Hohenstein advertised illegal cable devices in local and national publications including Pennysaver and Popular Mechanics, selling the descramblers at $250 to $350 apiece.

A few days before his sentencing, Oceanic also filed suit against six Oahu residents for possession and distribution of illegal boxes.

Oceanic, Hawaiian Cablevision of Maui, Sun Cablevision, Hawaiian Cablevision of Hilo and Garden Isle Telecommunications will offer amnesty though today.

Anyone who decides to take Oceanic up on the offer after the deadline should give them a call. Said Beuret: "We're a company that believes in being flexible."