This outcome is the result of years of hard work by our office and our partners from the

Criminal Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente.
The Mega Conspiracy engaged in massive criminal infringement of copyrighted works on the
Internet, and we are confident that this case will be a sign to those who would abuse technology
for illegal profit.
Today one conspirator who infringed upon the work of countless artists, actors and
musicians takes responsibility for his actions, said Assistant Director in Charge McCabe. We
continue to pursue his co-conspirators until they face justice in the American legal system. This
sentence and the remaining charges in this case are the direct result of the hard work of dedicated
FBI Special Agents, intelligence analysts and prosecutors who have invested countless hours of
effort to bring justice in this case.
Nomm agreed to waive his extradition hearing in the Netherlands, where he was arrested
in January 2012, and plead guilty in the United States. In light of his role in the conspiracy and
acceptance of responsibility, prosecutors agreed to recommend the sentence of a year and a day in
federal prison.
Nomm was initially charged along with six other individuals and two privately-held
corporations by a federal grand jury on Jan. 5, 2012, and a superseding indictment with additional
charges was subsequently returned on Feb. 16, 2012. The superseding indictment charged the
defendants with three separate conspiracies: conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to
commit copyright infringement and conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition, the
defendants are charged with five counts of criminal copyright infringement and five counts of
wire fraud. The indictment alleges that, for more than five years, the Mega Conspiracy operated
websites that willfully reproduced and distributed infringing copies of copyrighted works,
including works that had not been commercially released. The charges and allegations contained
in an indictment are merely accusations and the remaining defendants are presumed innocent
unless and until proven guilty.
In court papers, Nomm agreed that the harm caused to copyright holders by the Mega
Conspiracys criminal conduct exceeded $400 million. He further acknowledged that the group
obtained at least $175 million in proceeds through their conduct. Megaupload.com had claimed
that, at one time, it accounted for four percent of total Internet traffic, having more than one
billion total visits, 150 million registered users and 50 million daily visitors.
In a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Nomm admitted that he was a
computer programmer who worked for the Mega Conspiracy from 2007 until his arrest in January
2012. Nomm further admitted that, through his work as a computer programmer, he was aware
that copyright-infringing content was stored on the websites, including copyright protected
motion pictures and television programs, some of which contained the FBI Anti-Piracy
warning. Nomm also admitted that he personally downloaded copyright-infringing files from the
Mega websites. Despite his knowledge in this regard, Nomm continued to participate in the Mega
Conspiracy.
An extradition hearing for co-defendants Kim Dotcom, Mathias Ortmann, Bram Van der
Kolk and Finn Batato is currently scheduled for June 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. Codefendants Julius Bencko and Sven Echternach remain at large.

defendants Julius Bencko and Sven Echternach remain at large.

This case is being investigated by the FBIs Headquarters and Washington Field Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Counsel Ryan K. Dickey and Brian L. Levine of the
Criminal Divisions Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S.
Attorney Jay V. Prabhu of the Eastern District of Virginia. The Criminal Divisions Office of
International Affairs also provided significant assistance.
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