From Billboard · Thomas Smith · · 1m
Man Sentenced for £1m Counterfeit Vinyl Operation
London police sentence man to prison for £1m counterfeit vinyl scheme.
In brief
London police sentence man to prison for £1m counterfeit vinyl scheme. Rehan Ahmed received 5 years in prison for producing fake Taylor Swift, Coldplay and Kendrick Lamar vinyl copies worth £1m. Originally reported by Billboard.
Who was caught
Rehan Ahmed, 40, of Southall, west London, was found guilty of copyright breaches and criminal property.
How much profit
Ahmed generated £2.743 million in profit from fake vinyl copies of Taylor Swift, Coldplay and Kendrick Lamar albums.
Where it happened
The counterfeit vinyl operation operated from a unit in Acton, west London, under the name "Phoenix of Vinyl."
What was seized
Police seized 2,791 vinyl records, lacquers and pressing equipment from the operation.
Why it matters
This is the largest seizure of counterfeit vinyl in the U.K., affecting 108 artists' copyrights.
What happens next
The conviction sends a clear signal to counterfeiters that police are actively pursuing music fraud.
The big picture
Rehan Ahmed received 5 years in prison for producing fake Taylor Swift, Coldplay and Kendrick Lamar vinyl copies worth £1m.
