A federal jury in Las Vegas has convicted Yoany Vaillant, a Cuban citizen and U.S. permanent resident, for his role in operating Jetflicks, one of the largest illegal streaming services ever uncovered in the United States. Vaillant, 43, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement following a two-week trial, making him the eighth and final defendant convicted in a high-profile case that has shaken the entertainment industry.
Jetflicks, a subscription-based service based in Las Vegas, illegally provided users access to an enormous catalog of copyrighted television episodes without the permission of the copyright owners. At its peak, Jetflicks boasted more than 183,000 episodes, far surpassing the content libraries of major licensed streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. The service attracted tens of thousands of subscribers across the United States, who could stream and sometimes download the latest TV episodes—often the day after they aired.
Vaillant, a skilled computer programmer with 15 years of experience, played a critical role in Jetflicks’ operations. Evidence presented at trial showed that he worked alongside co-conspirators to develop and maintain software that automated the downloading, processing, and streaming of pirated television shows. Vaillant and his team scoured global piracy websites, such as The Pirate Bay and RARBG, using automated scripts to harvest and upload massive quantities of infringing content.
The illegal service had a massive impact on the entertainment industry, causing significant financial losses to U.S. television networks and streaming companies. Variety reported, the illegal streaming service charged users $9.99 per month in subscription revenue while causing “substantial harm to television program copyright owners,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice. With content from top TV shows reproduced and streamed without authorization, Jetflicks exposed a huge gap in digital copyright enforcement, costing the industry millions of dollars.
“Vaillant and his co-conspirators ran one of the largest internet piracy operations in history, flooding the market with copyrighted content and depriving creators and copyright holders of the revenues they deserve,” said the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a statement. “This conviction sends a strong message to those who engage in or support illegal streaming.”
Vaillant was one of eight individuals indicted in 2019 for their involvement in the Jetflicks operation. Several of his co-defendants, including Kristopher Dallmann, Jared Jaurequi, and others, were convicted earlier this year for similar charges. Dallmann, who ran the Jetflicks operation, was found guilty of multiple counts of criminal copyright infringement and money laundering.
“The defendants ran a platform that automated the theft of TV shows and distributed the stolen content to subscribers,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “When complaints from copyright holders and problems with payment service providers threatened to topple the illicit multimillion-dollar enterprise, the defendants tried to disguise Jetflicks as an aviation entertainment company. Digital piracy is not a victimless crime. As these convictions demonstrate, the FBI will indeed investigate those who illegally profit from the creative works of others.”
The case is notable not only for its scale but also for being the first illegal streaming case of its magnitude to go to trial. It marks a significant victory for copyright enforcement in the digital age, as authorities continue to tackle the growing threat of online piracy.
As part of the legal proceedings, several co-defendants have already pleaded guilty and received sentences ranging from one to nearly five years in prison. Vaillant and the other remaining defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in February 2025.
The conviction of Vaillant concludes the legal saga of the Jetflicks case, but it highlights the ongoing battle between copyright owners and digital pirates. Authorities have made it clear that they will continue to prioritize the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
“Today’s conviction reinforces our commitment to protecting the integrity of the entertainment industry and ensuring that creators are compensated for their work,” said a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Justice.
Karyn Temple, Senior Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel for the Motion Picture Association (MPA), called the conviction of Jetflicks’ operators a “landmark victory for intellectual property rights.”
“The Motion Picture Association applauds the Department of Justice for its successful prosecution of five individuals who brazenly and illegally profited by infringing on copyrighted works belonging to the Alliance for Creativity in Entertainment (ACE),” Temple said. ACE is a coalition of entertainment companies dedicated to combating piracy.
Temple emphasized that the conviction highlights the criminal nature of such offenses and the widespread damage they cause, not only to the creative industry but also to the tens of thousands of workers whose livelihoods depend on it. She cited set designers, caterers, hair and makeup artists, and camera operators, among others, as key roles affected by the piracy operation.
