O F F I C I A L  U S E  O N L Y
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 
ICE 
REPORT OF INVESTIGATION CONTINUATION 
PAGE 2
CASE NUMBER **REDACTED (b)(2)High, (k)(2)**
REPORT NUMBER: 021


DETAILS OF INVESTIGATION:

**REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** born **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)**, social security number **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** resides at **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** home phone number (512) 567-**REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)**, was interviewed in the United States Attorneys Office (USAO), Western District of Texas, 816 Congress Avenue, Suite 1000, Austin Texas. Also present during the interview was US Department of Justice Computer Crime and Intellectual
Property Section (CCIPS) Trial Attorney Andrea Sharrin, Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Matthew Devlin, FBI Special Agents (SA) **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** and **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** , and Assistant Federal Public Defender (AFPD) **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)**, (512) 916-**REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)**.

Prior to **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** attorney entering the conference room, AUSA Devlin
provided SA **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** me with a copy of the US Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) report of investigation prepared by the local ICE investigator pursuant to the search warrant service on May 25, 2005. A copy of this report will be maintained separately in the 1A section of the file in an FD-340 envelope.

**REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** was presented with a proffer letter which he reviewed with his attorney.  **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** signed the letter and the interview began. After being advised of the nature of the interview and the identities of the interviewing agents, provided the following information:

**REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** was on a bit torrent (BT) website named torrentbits.org which had a link to the EliteTorrents.org (ET) website.  **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** subscribed sometime around August 2004 to ET and began corresponding with a member named **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** by private messages and IRC chat. A few days later, **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** noticed that **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** was looking for a moderator for the site and **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** offered to volunteer. The position of moderator was to keep people in check, monitor the forms for abusive language and people offering credit card numbers. Approximately one month later, **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** was promoted to administrator by  **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)**.  **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** wanted to be a nice moderator, not like the rude moderators on torrentbits.org.  **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** was asked what other moderator nics he remembered and what he knew on each member.  **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** created the site and lived in Los Angeles, **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** created the code for the website and lived in Europe, **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** was **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** cousin and purchased servers for people, and **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)**,  who lived in Canada, took over control of the server at some point.  **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** went by the nic **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** because it was derived from his last name.

**REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** was asked what his tasks were as a website administrator. **REDACTED (b)(6), (b)(7)c, (k)(2)** stated that he had no tasks or responsibilities, his job was a moderator for the forums, keeping the site organized, talk to people about their concerns, but
nothing with coding the website. If members complained about a delay (length


O F F I C I A L  U S E  O N L Y
THIS DOCUMENT IS LOANED TO YOU FR OFFICIAL USE ONLY AND REMAINS THE PROPERTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, ICE.  AND FURTHER REQUEST FOR DISCLOSURE OF THIS DOCUMENT OR INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN SHOULD BE REFERRED TO ICE HEADQUARTERS TOGETHER WITH A COPY OF THE DOCUMENT.

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