
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 16, 1990                   TAG: 9005160470
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

STATE POLICE SEIZE COUNTERFEIT TAPES

State police special agents seized about 3,750 counterfeit music tapes Monday from a Roanoke County tape distributor and charged a company representative, according to J.T. Oliver, assistant special agent in charge of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Salem.

State police began investigating Top Ten Co. on Williamson Road several weeks ago after receiving a complaint, Oliver said.

Monday, special agents and officials of the Recording Industry Association of America searched a vehicle owned by Charles L. Howell, a Top Ten Co. representative, and found 13 cases of Top 40 music cassettes, Oliver said.

Howell was charged in Botetourt County, where his vehicle was searched, Oliver said.

After arresting Howell, authorities executed a search warrant at Top Ten Co. and seized 63 more cases of counterfeit tapes. James Russell Richards, owner of Top Ten Co. was present during the search, Oliver said.

- Staff report

by CNB