A prominent social media star was charged with running a TV pirating ring that netted him and two partners more than $30 million - and livestreamed his arrest as the FBI swooped down on his New Jersey mansion.
The influencer, whose real name is Bill Omar Carrasquillo, 35, is being charged with conspiracy to commit copyright infringement, tax evasion and fraud for his illegal online streaming service websites.
Along with partners Jesse Gonzales, 42, and Michael Barone, 36, Carrasquillo supposedly offered subscribers all-inclusive access to content from Comcast, Verizon FiOS, DirectTV and HBO for as low as $15 a month.
Both Gonzales and Barone were also charged, with prosecutors alleging they collected more than $30 million in subscription fees, which they attempted to conceal by distributing to various apps and bank accounts.
In this photo, famous New Jersey YouTube star, Omi in a Hellcat, whose real name is Bill Omar Carrasquillo, speaks to reporters outside his home in New Jersey. The influencer was arrested by the FBI and charged in one of the largest illegal TV pirating rings ever
Omi insists he has made his money legally through a a construction company and as a landlord. He also makes money via his YouTube channel
This 69-page, 62-count indictment claims Carrasquillo, who has garnered over 800,000 YouTube subscribers, ran an illegal streaming service called Reboot, Gears TV, Reloaded and Gears Reloaded
The 69-page, 62-count indictment claims Carrasquillo, who has garnered more than half a million YouTube subscribers, ran an illegal streaming service called Reboot, Gears TV, Reloaded and Gears Reloaded.
In November 2019, the FBI raided Carrasquillo homes, seizing his supercars, Rolex watches and bank accounts and began investigating his TV streaming business and tax returns. He was arrested on Tuesday.
Nearly all of Carrasquillo's assets were taken in the raid nearly two years ago, leaving him 'down to nothing'.
'They came back for things they alleged I did. The copyright infringement. I didn't think I was doing anything wrong, obviously,' Carrasquillo told FOX 29 outside his home.
Omi in a Hellcat, pictured, boasts more than 800,000 followers on Instagram and more than half a million followers on YouTube. He describes himself as an influencer, YouTuber, club owner, investor and entrepreneur on his online profiles
The influencer, real name Bill Omar Carrasquillo, says his assets were taken in a raid last month
'We're going to have our day in court now,' he added.
His attorney, Donte Mills said: 'He’s being penalized for being innovative and creative. There is no law that says he could not do what he was doing.'
Carrasquillo adds: 'No copyright holders ever got in contact with me to say, "Hey, you can’t do this" because there are certain ways that I set the business up that’s going to prove a million percent that it wasn’t illegal.'
Nearly all of Carrasquillo's assets were taken in the raid, leaving him 'down to nothing'
Department of Justice seizure notices are said to be on domains associated with Gears TV
The car enthusiast also posted two documents online which he claims shows 12 of the cars taken from his properties, showing at least three Lamborghinis, three Jeeps and an Audi were seized. A second list shows a number of Rolex watches, plus jewelry was taken by authorities
He said his mansion in Woolwich Township, New Jersey was also raided, with federal authorities taking 'everything'. He claims other properties he owns were also targeted.
A neighbor, John Ware, told FOX 29: 'They loaded them off one by one over the course of 4 to 5 hours. They took all of his cars—probably 30 of them.'
The car enthusiast also posted two documents online which he claims shows 12 of the cars taken from his properties, showing at least three Lamborghinis, three Jeeps and an Audi were seized.
A second list shows a number of Rolex watches, plus diamond, gold and silver jewelry was taken by authorities.
Carrasquillo added that he doesn't believe he's 'completely innocent,' saying 'Ignorance is not an excuse for the law.'
'I found a loophole, I ran through it and I did great. There are other colleagues in the same business I was in and they never got in trouble with the FBI,' he told FOX 29.
That loophole can now cost Carrasquillo life in prison if convicted.
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