Sunny Kanda has been jailed for two years for selling illegally-modified TV Fire sticks, giving his customers access to content that is usually only available on paid platforms
A man who sold illegal TV Fire sticks and cheated legitimate providers out of more than £108,000 has been jailed for two years.
Sunny Kanda, 40, sold the illegally-modified devices – known colloquially as “dodgy sticks” during an 18-month period between 2020 and 2022, a court heard. By giving his customers access to content that is usually only available on paid platforms such as Sky, BT Sport, Disney+ and Netflix, he infringed copyright laws.
The court heard Kanda, who sold the Fire sticks on a closed Facebook group which had more than 3,900 members, was arrested following an investigation by National Trading Standards, local government and intellectual property organisation ‘FACT’. An undercover investigator, posing as a customer, infiltrated the social media group and bought one of the devices.
The investigator later found the device had been modified to provide unauthorised access to premium film, television, and live sports content using applications called The Vodfather XC and Plex, Birmingham Live reported. Kanda was sentenced at York Crown Court on January 3 after pleading guilty in August to three charges relating to fraud, copyright and concealing bank transfers linked to criminal activity.
A hearing will be held on May 7 to decide if financial orders will be imposed on him. A spokesperson for National Trading Standards said on Friday: “Accessing pirated content through illegal TV Fire sticks undermines the UK’s entertainment industry, putting its talented workforce and supply chains at risk by depriving them of fair earnings and revenue.
“It also puts consumers at risk by exposing them to illegal software that can put their data and bank details in jeopardy. Today’s sentence is an important reminder to all those who buy and sell TV Fire sticks that crime does not pay – it breaches copyright law and we encourage people to report suspected cases to the Citizens Advice consumer service.”
Last month, Brits were urged to steer clear of “dodgy” TV Fire sticks, following a crackdown on illegal streaming. FACT, alongside police forces, issued cease-and-desist orders to 30 suppliers, threatening prosecution if the illicit activities don’t stop.
Originally created by Amazon for accessing services like Prime Video and Netflix, these devices have been hijacked by criminals who modify them to offer free access to paid streaming content. FACT CEO Kieron Sharp delivered a stark warning about the legal risks, stating: “Our cease-and-desist measures are not just warnings – they are the first step toward holding offenders accountable.
“Many who ignored these notices in the past are now facing arrest and criminal charges. We strongly advise anyone involved in these activities to stop immediately.” He further cautioned: “If you’re supplying or using illicit streaming devices or illegal IPTV subscriptions, take this as a clear warning: you are breaking the law and risk facing serious consequences. We will continue working with police to track down and shut down these illegal operations.”
