The United States Department of Justice has shared some news regarding Team-Xecuter, which doesn't appear to be a good sign for the company. Gary Bowser, known on GBAtemp as garyopa, Max Louarn, and Yuanning Chen have all been arrested in Seattle, Washington. The US Government classifies these men as "leaders of one of the world's most notorious videogame piracy groups", and will be facing a federal indictment charge, for the selling of illegal hardware that facilitates piracy.

“These defendants lined their pockets by stealing and selling the work of other video-game developers – even going so far as to make customers pay a licensing fee to play stolen games,” said U.S. Attorney Brian Moran for the Western District of Washington. “This conduct doesn’t just harm billion dollar companies, it hijacks the hard work of individuals working to advance in the video-game industry.”

The FBI has also been involved, with each defendant to be charged under 11 felony counts, ranging from wire fraud, trafficking circumvention devices, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. One of the defendants, Louarn, has not yet been extradited, though Bowser has, where he was seen in the court hearing that took place today.

In September 2020, Louarn and Bowser were arrested abroad in connection with the charges in this case. The United States will seek Louarn’s extradition to stand trial in the United States. Bowser was arrested and deported from the Dominican Republic, and appeared today in federal court, in New Jersey.

Each defendant is charged with 11 felony counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to circumvent technological measures and to traffic in circumvention devices, trafficking in circumvention devices, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Source

 

[Dust2dust]

But to say that someone will get fucked in prison or something is just cruel.

You're right! All those people making the simple jokes of new prisoners getting raped in prisons are just dehumanized idiots. I visited a former old prison once and the guide for the visit was a former inmate from said prison. He said something that's harshly real... anyone can end up in prison one day. Even if you live like a saint (and who does?) you could still be driving and hit a kid crossing the street, then in a panic, you flee the scene. Bang! Hit'n Run charge and a free vacation in jail. Anything can happen. Don't think it will never happen to you, guys!

 

[realtimesave]

Keep hope alive for Gary oPa. We should have a vigil. Light a candle. Say a prayer for my friend.

 

[Crazystato]

"So long gay bowser!"

 

[Legend Of Kay]

People celebrating this is super weird. "They're stealing code effects atmos users" no it doesn't. SciresM was affected but the average user has no say in it. This isn't great for the scene.

 

[Nincompoopdo]

I am sure the FBI came to this site for their investigations, probably for years. I mean, the 3DS roms are .cia and it uses an app called FBI to install - google indexing would have labeled CIA and FBI as connected to Nintendo.

Mario had actually beaten Bowser in real life.

 

[godreborn]

there's a site I won't name that I was banned on (same site that tried publishing personal emails of mine) that deserves to get sued and the admins should go to prison as well. they're looking for efame same as Gary. that's no reason to contribute to a scene. begging for money when you steal content from other sites in order to act like you're buying the content is nonsense. the ps3 and 4 scenes will get along just nicely without them. this same site was/is hiding licenses (raps). if you know anything about the ps3, fixes require the rap otherwise there's no way to decrypt encrypted content. after that, it's as easy as resigning to free, which takes a grand total of two programs. anyway, without the rap, you're completely reliant on this site for update fixes. once an update is released, the encrypted files are once again requiring a rap file. I can't believe anyone tolerates that shit. the site should've been gone a long time ago. the site is essentially in total control of the scene. this is no different than duplex that wants to pollute the ps4 scene, same as the ps3 one. they dictate which groups release what and what is actually released. in much the same vain, they don't release licenses but rather fixes so you're completely reliant on them if you're pirating.

 

[the_randomizer]

You're right! All those people making the simple jokes of new prisoners getting raped in prisons are just dehumanized idiots. I visited a former old prison once and the guide for the visit was a former inmate from said prison. He said something that's harshly real... anyone can end up in prison one day. Even if you live like a saint (and who does?) you could still be driving and hit a kid crossing the street, then in a panic, you flee the scene. Bang! Hit'n Run charge and a free vacation in jail. Anything can happen. Don't think it will never happen to you, guys!

The penal system in this country is bullshit, and needs reworking as prisoners are not treated very well compared to other countries. That said, this is just weird news.

 

[Goku1992A]

Eventually Nintendo will sue Atmosphere too like I said earlier if SXOS goes down it's just the beginning. Idk why people thing Nintendo is going to let Atmosphere run free when it still enable piracy. I give Atmosphere maybe a month or 2 tops. Yes I know Vanilla Atmosphere doesn't enable piracy but if they was smart the will kill sigpatches all together in the next update just to be safe.

 

[the_randomizer]

But yes, let the justice system focus on this and not trivial issues that clearly don't matter like murders and the like /s

Oh wait.

 

[godreborn]

probably a stiffer penalty than rapists, maybe not murderers.

 

[lolcatzuru]

you don't know what this means do you? if team Xecuter goes down what's stopping nintendo from going after atmosphere devs? or even Us?

do you have ANY idea how much work it would be to throw literally every single person who bought from sxos or hacked their switch would be? nintendo would go bankrupt

 

[Goku1992A]

do you have ANY idea how much work it would be to throw literally every single person who bought from sxos or hacked their switch would be? nintendo would go bankrupt

Atmosphere is next the end user wont get sued unless they are advertising to resell

 

[godreborn]

sony tried going after everyone after fail0verflow embarrassed them, but that did nothing but damage their reputation. demanding the ip addresses of everyone that watched videos on hacking the ps3, really?

 

[the_randomizer]

Atmosphere is next the end user wont get sued unless they are advertising to resell

Nintendo can't do jack squat to arrest millions of people who pirate or mod consoles.

 

[lolcatzuru]

Atmosphere is next the end user wont get sued unless they are advertising to resell

thats not true. Geohot got sued for ps3 and iphone hacks back in the day and he didn't sell them, that being said, theres alot less incentive as its entirely a loss on nintendo's part.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

sony tried going after everyone after fail0verflow embarrassed them, but that did nothing but damage their reputation. demanding the ip addresses of everyone that watched videos on hacking the ps3, really?

its pretty scuzzy honestly, the hacking community as large as it is inconsequential to the bottom line of major companies in all honesty.

 

[Goku1992A]

Nintendo can't do jack squat to arrest millions of people who pirate or mod consoles.

I'm talking about the people of offer modding services I know a few guys in the past got sued my Nintendo for selling SXOS dongles and even atmosphere loading pirated games.

thats not true. Geohot got sued for ps3 and iphone hacks back in the day and he didn't sell them, that being said, theres alot less incentive as its entirely a loss on nintendo's part.

Yes I remember that was back in 2010 but now Sony offers a bounty program and pay hackers for exploits that they found This is honestly a very sad day for the scene idk why people are celebrating because it is the beginning of the end.

 

[the_randomizer]

I'm talking about the people of offer modding services I know a few guys in the past got sued my Nintendo for selling SXOS dongles and even atmosphere loading pirated games.


Yes I remember that was back in 2010 but now Sony offers a bounty program and pay hackers for exploits that they found This is honestly a very sad day for the scene idk why people are celebrating because it is the beginning of the end.

One head gets cut off, two more grow in its place. Nintendo can't do a bloody thing to stop every single hacker.

 

[lolcatzuru]

I'm talking about the people of offer modding services I know a few guys in the past got sued my Nintendo for selling SXOS dongles and even atmosphere loading pirated games.


Yes I remember that was back in 2010 but now Sony offers a bounty program and pay hackers for exploits that they found This is honestly a very sad day for the scene idk why people are celebrating because it is the beginning of the end.

Nah i dont think it is, 2010 was the "beginning of the end" until it wasnt and 2020 will be no different.

 

[Goku1992A]

@lolcatzuru & @the_randomizer

To my knowledge only SXOS had cracked the V2 switches and lites Atmosphere doesn't seem to be capable of doing it. So in a way for V2 and switch lite support if evreything is true only 10.2.0 CFW will be the last firmware for it (the same as PS4 6.67 CFW) I'm just making an educated guess lets just say Nintendo hits Atmosphere with a cease and desist order basically the switch scene will be like the PS4 Scene

again this is only speculation but I am 100% positive Nintendo is coming after Atmosphere. I can also see Atmosphere disabling all sig patches in their future CFW.

 

[lolcatzuru]

@lolcatzuru & @the_randomizer

To my knowledge only SXOS had cracked the V2 switches and lites Atmosphere doesn't seem to be capable of doing it. So in a way for V2 and switch lite support if evreything is true only 10.2.0 CFW will be the last firmware for it (the same as PS4 6.67 CFW) I'm just making an educated guess lets just say Nintendo hits Atmosphere with a cease and desist order basically the switch scene will be like the PS4 Scene

again this is only speculation but I am 100% positive Nintendo is coming after Atmosphere. I can also see Atmosphere disabling all sig patches in their future CFW.

the problem is atmosphere isn't an entity they can hit, its open source, thats like trying to sue linux. They can TRY to go after them by like hydra, one may fall and 2 more will rise.