The result is the largest seizure of counterfeit Microsoft software and components to date.

The investigation culminated in a federal grand jury returning an indictment against 11 individuals yesterday in Los Angeles. In late August, the FBI executed three search warrants and arrested 11 individuals in California, Washington and Texas. The individuals are allegedly responsible for a wide variety of software piracy operations, including unauthorized media replication, printing of counterfeit documentation and distribution of counterfeit software.

"The FBI's leadership has forged an unprecedented collaborative partnership between law enforcement and industry that has led to cracking this sophisticated case," said Rich LaMagna, director of worldwide investigations for the digital integrity group at Microsoft. "We are immensely appreciative of law enforcement's efforts. With this type of teamwork, we can successfully address cybercrime and fight the 21st-century tactics of today's criminals."

During the two-year period, the investigation, now known as Digital Marauder, targeted the counterfeit replication, printing and distribution portions of a sophisticated and highly organized criminal operation. The indicted defendants, including Tobias Grace of Vancouver, WA, and Sanh Thai of Los Angeles, CA, were allegedly involved in setting up a counterfeit replication site in the Los Angeles area, where they produced counterfeit Adobe and Symantec CDs. This replication site was raided by the FBI's Los Angeles office in April 2004, and the equipment was seized.