Police Break Up Software Piracy Ring

Authorities have seized nearly $10 million in allegedly pirated Microsoft Corp. software and cash, breaking what police called one of the biggest software counterfeiting rings on the West Coast.

The Southern California investigation involved a computer store, a suburban Monterey Park warehouse and several area banks, according to court records and interviews with detectives.

It’s believed to be one of the largest seizures of allegedly counterfeit Microsoft software in the United States, said company spokeswoman Karen Porter.

Popular Microsoft computer programs, such as Windows 95 and Office Professional & Bookshelf, were believed to have been manufactured overseas, most likely in China.

The merchandise was then sold cheaply and distributed from the Monterey Park warehouse, detectives said.