Hansmayer Floor (Paul Hansmeier)

Hansmayer Floor (Paul Hansmeier)

Biography

2019: 14 years of prison for racketings of money when viewing a porn

In the middle of June, 2019 the lawyer from the USA Paul Hansmayer was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment because of the complex circuit of fraud for the purpose of racketing of money. Hansmayer found a loophole in the copyright law – he bought the rights to a porn, posted on the Internet and extorted money from those who downloaded it. For the activity Hansmayer got the nickname "porntroll".

In 2011 Hansmayner with the business partner John Steele opened Prenda Law law firm which bought copyright of pornofilms and spread them on file hosting services and torrents. Owners made the claim for violation of the copyright to all who downloaded similar rollers, and then suggested to settle the case, without bringing it to court. The required amounts were rather small so settlement of legal claims cost cheaper, than their consideration, and courts received the adequate notice and closed case. In five years Hansmayer and Steele earned over $6 million.

Over time judges began to be skeptical about similar tactics. Hansmayer and Steel registered at least four false firms which filed a lawsuit the claim on behalf of owners. In one case the judge rejected the claim connected with Prenda Law when it became clear that nobody in the courtroom can precisely explain whom actually was an expected claimant. The judge described this case as "attempt of fraud in court". Soon judges began to submit the similar cases to federal prosecutors, and both men were arrested in 2016 on a charge of fraud, perjury and money muling.

Steel pled guilty in 2017 and cooperated with the authorities. Hansmayer originally resisted, but adopted the agreement on recognition of fault in August, 2018. It was awarded by 14 years of imprisonment and a penalty in the amount of $1.5 million Steel expects adjudgement, but it is threatened by smaller term.^[1]

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