Man who made £15k flogging dodgy Amazon firesticks moans he was ‘grassed on’

A man in Liverpool, Jonathan Edge, has been found guilty of illegally modifying Amazon firesticks to allow access to premium subscription-based content from Sky, BT Sport, and a library of 10,000 films. Edge operated his illicit business from his home between April 2020 and December 2023, making around £15,000 from selling the modified devices. He advertised his services on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram for £30 per firestick, attracting customers with bulk-buy discounts.

Edge’s advertisements were spotted by FACT, the federation against copyright theft, in October 2020, leading to takedown notices being issued to remove the ads. Despite these warnings, Edge continued to repost identical adverts even after receiving a cease and desist notice in August 2022. He persisted in promoting his business on social media until an undercover FACT investigator made a test purchase of firesticks in August 2023, leading to a police search of Edge’s home in December 2023.

During the search, authorities discovered 500 customer names on Edge’s phone. Edge, who had a previous fraud conviction and was on parole for drug dealing, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud at Liverpool Crown Court. His defence lawyer highlighted Edge’s financial struggles due to the pandemic and his drug use, painting him as providing a service to those who could not afford legitimate subscriptions. However, the judge sentenced Edge to 40 months in prison, emphasising the impact of piracy on legitimate broadcasters and media outlets.

In summary, Jonathan Edge’s case serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in illegal activities such as modifying devices for illegal streaming. It highlights the importance of respecting copyright laws and the detrimental effects of piracy on legitimate businesses. Edge’s experience underscores the need for individuals to seek legal and ethical means of accessing content rather than resorting to piracy.