A man in Central California discovered that the Anti-Piracy Warning Seal and message that plays before every Hollywood movie is not just for show.

Just eight days after the February 2016 release of the Marvel film “Deadpool,” federal authorities said Trevon Maurice Franklin illegally uploaded it to Facebook, allowing more than 5 million people to watch it for free.

It did not take long for the FBI to notice.

On Tuesday, federal authorities arrested the 21-year-old Fresno man, charging him with copyright infringement, according to a U.S. District Court grand jury indictment.


The felony offense carries a sentence of up to three years in federal prison, the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles said.

Federal authorities said Franklin illegally uploaded the action flick starring actor Ryan Reynolds and posted it on his Facebook page using the screen name “Tre-Von M. King.”

He is accused of reproducing and distributing at least 10 copies of “Deadpool,” the indictment said.

Federal authorities estimated the total retail value of the copies was $2,500.


veronica.rocha@latimes.com

Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA

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