A New York Supreme Court judge granted the order against Yocko and its owner Lenny Yocko, barring the company from selling, distributing or disposing of DVDs produced by Pitbull, according to court documents.
“The DVDs were stolen from our office,” Pitbull Vice President Pat Reshen told XBIZ. “We have a very good idea who took them, but that’s an ongoing investigation and they’re going to be prosecuting these kids, so we can’t go into it at the moment.”
The theft was discovered last week, when 3,000 DVDs disappeared from Pitbull’s New York facilities. Police are investigating two performers — one of whom has worked for Pitbull — as suspects in the theft.
Pitbull has also filed a lawsuit against Yocko over its alleged unauthorized distribution and sale of the stolen DVDs. The company is seeking $5 million in damages. Yocko claims that he didn’t realize he was purchasing stolen goods until well after buying 700 of the DVDs.
“He knew it was stolen,” Reshen said. “Of course he knew, because he was having a big fight with our distributor, Marina Pacific. Yocko didn’t want to pay what they charge. If he didn’t get them [the DVDs] through Marina Pacific, then he knew damn well that they were stolen.”
The theft was discovered by a Marina Pacific salesman who noticed some adult stores were selling Pitbull DVDs that had not yet been released. In its complaint, Pitbull alleges that Yocko acquired the stolen property and then sold them in the New York market to adult video stores at well below market prices.
“Pitbull Productions takes very seriously any infringement on its proprietary material,” Pitbull spokesman Michael Violet said in a prepared statement. “Pitbull is working with law enforcement and intends to apprehend and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law any and all individuals involved.”
Pitbull has recovered most of the stolen DVDs, according to Violet.
