AI-Written Ransomware: Jetflicks Piracy Operator Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison

Red Dog Security

— 2 min read
AI-Written Ransomware: Jetflicks Piracy Operator Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison

Kristopher Dallmann, the founder of the pirate streaming platform Jetflicks, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison. Despite maintaining his innocence, Dallmann faced charges ranging from conspiracy and copyright infringement to money laundering.

Jetflicks: A 12-Year Piracy Operation

Jetflicks operated from 2007 until its shutdown by the FBI in 2019. Over its 12-year run, the service offered:

  • Over 10,500 pirated movies
  • More than 183,000 TV episodes

Using automated scripts, Jetflicks scraped content from legal platforms—including Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime—and made it available for download and streaming. New TV episodes often appeared just one day after airing. Tens of thousands of paying subscribers accessed the service.

2024 Conviction and Criminal Charges

In 2024, a federal jury in Las Vegas convicted Dallmann and four co-conspirators:

  • Douglas Courson
  • Felipe Garcia
  • Jared Jaurequi
  • Peter Huber

Roles in the Operation:

  • Kristopher Dallmann: Ringleader
  • Jared Jaurequi & Douglas Courson: Assisted in daily operations
  • Felipe Garcia: Managed customer support and acquired content
  • Peter Huber: Served as programmer and technical support

All five were charged with conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement. Dallmann faced additional charges for laundering the profits.

Facing 48 Years—Sentenced to 7

Prosecutors initially pushed for a sentence of up to 48 years for Dallmann due to the scope of the operation and the money laundering charges. The other four defendants faced maximum sentences of five years each. Ultimately, the court handed Dallmann a much lighter sentence: seven years.

Dallmann Alleges FBI Misconduct

Following his arrest, Dallmann alleged that FBI agents:

  • Pointed firearms at him
  • Denied access to legal counsel
  • Pressured him to waive his Miranda rights

Despite these claims, he never entered a guilty plea.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Jetflicks caused an estimated $37.5 million in damages. This figure includes:

  • The market value of pirated content used to build Jetflicks’ library
  • Revenue lost to illegal streaming made available to subscribers

Final Sentencing and Penalties

A federal judge convicted Dallmann on six counts, including:

  • Conspiracy to commit copyright infringement
  • Reproduction, distribution, and public performance of copyrighted material
  • Money laundering and aiding and abetting

Sentence Details:

  • Prison term: 84 months (7 years), to be served concurrently
  • Fines: $375,000, payable immediately
  • Surrender date: October 17, 2025

Key Takeaways

  • Jetflicks ran for 12 years, distributing over 180,000 pirated TV episodes
  • Dallmann received 7 years, down from the original 48-year possibility
  • Four accomplices were convicted, receiving lesser penalties
  • Estimated damages total $37.5 million to copyright holders
  • The case illustrates the severity of piracy penalties, even amid debates over FBI conduct

This case underscores the real-world consequences of running large-scale piracy operations—and raises lingering questions about the enforcement tactics used to shut them down.

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