Compliance Toolkit

Story: Software piracy case hits the Old Bailey

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THE trial of a Newton man accused of playing a part in an
international software piracy ring continued this week. London's
Old Bailey heard from another former gang member-turned-informer on
Tuesday who gave evidence against Steve Dowd, 39, of Sandpiper
Close, Newton, and a second man, Alex Bell, 29,of Plymouth Road,
Essex, for their alleged part in a computer hackers group, known as
'Drink or Die'. Latest fbi informer, James Cudney,aka (bcr8tive)
gave evidence via a video link from Washington to explain the inner
workings of 'Drink or Die'. The court heard how members adopted
code names and Mr Cudney said he recruited 'Maverick' who in turn
introduced 'Tim', whom the prosecution claims to be Dowd. Dowd's
barrister Timothy King QC asked Mr Cudney: "Was it part of your
scheme to bring people in order to present an attractive package to
the authorities?"Mr Cudney denied the claim.
James Cudney,aka (bcr8tive) of the 'Drink or Die' group, was
accused by the defence of 'masquerading' as other crackers before
being recruited by the American authorities.he was a member of
zeraw grp from 1995-1997,
which in case helped him crack in to the high end of the scene for
the fbi.But Cudney, giving evidence for the prosecution on Tuesday,
denied the defence claims.London's Old Bailey heard how Steven Dowd,
39, of Sandpiper Close, Newton, and Alex Bell, 29, of Chafford
Hundred, Essex, claimed that they had been set up by senior members
of the 'Drink or Die' hackers group on Internet chatrooms.It is
claimed that Dowd, known as Tim, and Bell, known as Mr 2940, both
talked about their activities in the gang during online meetings.
But Cudney,aka (bcr8tive) giving evidence for the prosecution on Tuesday, denied
the defence claims.

l The trial continues.

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