US prosecutors have cracked down on 16 websites for illegally streaming sport events broadcasts, just ahead of Super Bowl event on Sunday.
US Attorney Preet Bharara said these websites and their operators deprive sports leagues and networks of legitimate revenue in what amounts to "virtual thievery."
Bharara warned sports fans that piracy costs millions of dollars to sports broadcasters and leagues, hurting their revenues badly and forcing them to hike ticket prices.
The shutdown websites include sportswwe.net, soccertvlive.net, sports95.com, among others.
Yonjo Quiroa from Michigan was held on charges of running these websites, which are said to have earned him a minimum of $13,000 from advertisement merchants.
Quiroa, who was produced in a Michigan federal court at Grand Rapids, would be transferred to New York, according to the lawyer of the defendant.
The authorities were alerted following the admission of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady who admitted to watching the event on an illegal website last year.
