A man suspected of uploading "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" to the internet before it was released in theaters was arrested Wednesday.
Gilberto Sanchez, 47, was arrested by FBI agents on suspicion of violating federal copyright law.
Sanchez was charged by an L.A. grand jury after allegedly uploading a pirated copy of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine" to the file sharing site Megaupload, the LA Times reported.
Twentieth Century Fox told CNN the FBI had been investigating who leaked the movie which was released in the U.S. on May 1. The digital file rapidly spread across the Internet and was available for download from hundreds of Web sites.
"The source of the initial leak and any subsequent postings will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law; the courts have handed down significant criminal sentences for such acts in the past," the studio said in a statement according to CNN.
When asked how was Sanchez able to obtain a copy of the film in advance, his defense lawyer Philip Weinstein said," I have no statement."
Sanchez was released on $50,000 bond.
He could face up to three years in prison and a $25,000 or more if convicted.
