TORONTO — Five individuals associated with GaloTV, also operating as Soltv, have been charged for running an illegal IPTV distribution service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced today.
In January 2020, the RCMP began an investigation called “Project OLoki” focused on the group of individuals, who were alleged to have “purchased legitimate media services from several companies and unlawfully distributed it, without authorization, at a considerable discount to the public,” reads an RCMP press release.
“On June 29, 2021, the RCMP Cybercrime Team executed a search warrant on a retail location of GaloTV, (also known as Soltv). The search warrant resulted in the seizure of a large number of set top boxes (used to decode and decrypt video signals) and hundreds of TV receivers and equipment used to re-broadcast video signals,” the release explains.
Manuel Da Rocha, Carlos Da Rocha, Carla Da Rocha, Elvis Da Rocha and Carlos Lopes have each been charged for fraud over $5,000, the theft of telecommunications services, and selling or distributing a device to obtain telecommunication service without payment of a lawful charge, according to the release. They are scheduled to appear at the Toronto North Ontario Court of Justice on July 28 at 2:30 p.m. ET.
The RCMP Cybercrime Investigative Team “is a specialized unit that is mandated to protect Canadians by detecting, investigating and disrupting cybercrime threats, particularly where the Internet and information technologies have a substantial role in the commission of a criminal offence,” the press release explains.
“This investigation is a great example of the RCMP’s commitment to keeping our communities safe by effectively disrupting cyber and economic crime,” said Inspector Lina Dabit, officer in charge, O Division Cybercrime Investigative Team, in the release.
For more, please click here.
