The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that Kristopher Lee Dallmann, the operator of the now-defunct illegal streaming service Jetflicks, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison. The decision marks one of the most significant enforcement actions in recent years against digital piracy operations in the United States.
Jetflicks, which Dallmann co-founded and operated, posed as a legitimate streaming platform but was, in fact, distributing tens of thousands of copyrighted television episodes without authorization. At its height, Jetflicks boasted a content library more extensive than major streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime combined, offering more than 180,000 episodes of pirated TV shows to subscribers who paid $9.99 per month.
According to court documents, Dallmann and his co-conspirators utilized sophisticated software and automated scripts to collect pirated content from illegal sources and store it on servers located in the United States and Canada. Subscribers could then stream or download this content through Jetflicks’ website, which was professionally designed to resemble legal streaming services.
Dallmann’s actions led to an estimated $37.5 million in losses to content creators and rights holders. Prosecutors emphasized that the scale, complexity, and profitability of the operation resembled that of a legitimate business—albeit entirely built on intellectual property theft. Despite warnings and takedown requests from copyright owners and payment processors, the Jetflicks team continued their operations and even attempted to disguise the service as an aviation-focused entertainment company.
In addition to Dallmann, four other individuals involved in the Jetflicks operation—Douglas Courson, Felipe Garcia, Jared Jaurequi, and Peter Huber—were also convicted and sentenced to prison terms of up to seven years.
“This sentencing sends a strong message that those who profit from stealing copyrighted content will face serious consequences,” said a spokesperson for the Department of Justice. “Digital piracy on this scale undermines the creative industries and the rule of law.”
Jetflicks was initially launched in 2007 as a streaming platform catering to aviation professionals but later evolved into a hub for pirated TV content, targeting a mainstream consumer audience. The Justice Department and the FBI led the multi-year investigation, which culminated in the dismantling of the service and the convictions of its operators.
Dallmann was found guilty of conspiracy to commit copyright infringement, criminal copyright infringement by distribution and public performance, and money laundering. His seven-year sentence is among the longest ever handed down in a digital piracy case in the United States.
