TV Football’s Mr Fix-It exposed
A FRAUDSTER who ran a moneyspinning scam which left broadcasters out of pocket by more than £1m a year has been jailed.
John Haggerty was the prime mover in a husband and wife pirate streaming operation which saw them provide illegal access to Premier League football matches and films, some of which had not even been released in cinemas.
A court heard the two-year operation netted Haggerty, also known as Gilfillan, £764,000 as he undercut broadcasters including Sky and BT Sport.
Prosecutors said the fraud caused a potential loss in revenue of £4m a year to broadcasters, whose material was viewed via Haggerty’s equipment, and exposed people and publicans who bought the devices to the risk of prosecution.
Haggerty had multiple passports in different names, set up an offshore “dummy company” in Nevis to hide the true purpose of his business and, in collusion with his wife, supplied the Immigration Service with false documents to sponsor an Egyptian national who maintained the illegal streaming service for the company.
Now Haggerty – who ran the scam through a business called Evolution Trading – has been locked up for five years and three months for conspiracy to defraud, while wife Mary Gilfillan was given a suspended prison sentence for her lesser role.
Sentencing them, Judge Simon Batiste: “This was a very sophisticated fraud perpetrated primarily by you, John Haggerty.
“It was a fraud committed against a number of broadcasters throughout the world, also sellers of rights such as the Premier League and the film industry.
“You involved a large number of people including people from different continents providing services to you.
“You sold 8,000 set-top boxes and started services including streaming services, you created an application to enable other devices to access the stream you created.
“In particular, devices permitted users to view all Premier League matches and films, some of which hadn’t even been released in the cinema.
“The conspiracy started in March 2013. The position was, when you first started selling boxes, you didn’t believe that to be illegal, but very quickly you realised the illegality of what you were doing.
“You generated receipts totalling £764,000 from the sale of set-top boxes.
“You opened a shop, and set up a subscription service undermining and undercutting those provided by legitimate providers.
“Part of the fraud involved over-
turning and stopping security measures to stop such fraud taking place, including using computer hackers.
“An investigation by the Federation Against Copyright Theft led to searches being carried out, including at Ridley Place, your home address, and incriminating items were found.
“I’m told that the business was winding down, and I’m prepared to accept that.
“The prosecution argues that losses were incurred by the Premier League and filmmakers that ran into the millions.
“In my judgement it’s clear the losses would clearly run into excess of a million pounds.
“You took a leading role in the conspiracy and you involved others, including your wife and brother-inlaw.
“You did commit a serious fraud offence in America. On October 12, 2010 you pleaded guilty to 10 counts of bank fraud before a court in Houston. You were sentenced to 41 months in prison and were released in May 2012.”
Turning to his wife, the judge added: “Mary Gilfillan, I was very, very close to locking you up immediately with your husband. “I’m satisfied you are a deeply loyal wife, perhaps loyal to a fault. “You’ve never been in trouble before and you would never have become involved save for the impact of your husband. “It’s that which is the most powerful thing that saves you.” David Groome, prosecuting, said the fraud ran from March 2013 to July 2015. He told the court: “This concerns a highly sophisticated fraud committed against numerous broadcasters throughout the world and those who have an interest in the content, including the FA Premier League and the film industry. “The conspiracy was coordinated by Mr Haggerty, assisted by his wife Mrs Gilfillan. She played a subordinate role but was a willing participant in the fraud. “Some 8,000 IPTV set top devices were provided...which enabled pay TV to be viewed without any payment to the relevant broadcasters and content owners.” The court heard customers would pay £15 a month for the service, undercutting the fees charged by legitimate broadcasters.
The devices would be sold for £75 to £100 to members of the public and £400 to pubs.
Evolution also created and sold access to its own illegal streaming service – infusum.tv – to thousands of customers.
Customers were also given access to thousands of films, some of which had not even been released in cinemas.
Referring to the gross receipts figure of £764,000, Mr Groome said: “The prosecution say it caused losses to the broadcasters, content owners and film owners of many multiples of that sum.”
The couple, formerly of Ridley Avenue, Blyth but latterly of Chase Meadows, Blyth, set up a business which sold the products on eBay, Amazon and from a shop on Regent Street, in Blyth.
Mr Groome said foreign broadcasts of Premier League football were made available, including during the “closed period” of a Saturday afternoon when such broadcasts are not allowed.
Simon Gurney, representing 57-year-old Haggerty, said: “Initially, in the sale of the top boxes, he believed what he was doing was legal.
“He was in dire financial circumstances following his return from America and he was seeking to begin a business which would provide some money for his family.”
Austin Welch, for Gilfillan, 54, who was sentenced to two years suspended for two years with 200 hours of unpaid work, said: “She is a wife and mother who has led a law-abiding life.
“She didn’t play a significant role, she was acting under the direction of her husband and had very limited technical knowledge.”
After the case, Premier League director of legal services, Kevin Plumb, said: “This case demonstrates how seriously the courts are dealing with criminals involved in the supply of illicit streaming devices and services that provide illegal access to Premier League football and other popular content.”
The prosecution argues that losses were incurred by the Premier League and filmmakers that ran into millions Judge Simon Batiste