Washington - The leader of Internet piracy ring DrinkOrDie, which distributed an estimated $50 million in pirated software, movies, games and music, was sentenced on Friday to 51 months in prison.

Hew Raymond Griffiths, a 44-year-old British national living in Australia, was extradited to the U.S. in February to face criminal charges in U.S. District Court in Virginia, and plead guilty to criminal charges in April.

In addition to Griffiths, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said that its 70 raids on DrinkOrDie operations have yielded more than 30 felony convictions in the U.S. and 11 convictions of foreign nationals overseas.

"Whether committed with a gun or a keyboard -- theft is theft," said U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg. "And, for those inclined to steal Intellectual Property here, or from halfway around the world, they are on notice that we can and will reach them."

Related Links:
http://tinyurl.com/2jn8d9

http://www.ice.gov

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DrinkOrDie