CARMINE CARIDI - CARIDI FINED $300,000 FOR OSCAR SCREENER COPIES

Movie actor CARMINE CARIDI has been fined $300,000 (GBP160,000) for sending screener tapes of OSCAR contenders to a fan, who then made them available on the internet.

The GODFATHER: PART II star, 70, has previously admitted sending around 60 videos of films to pal RUSSELL SPRAGUE, but claims to have had no idea Sprague was illegally distributing them online.

The US District Court in Los Angeles has imposed two fines of $150,000 (GBP80,000) each on Caridi, one for THE LAST SAMURAI and one for MYSTIC RIVER, after studio WARNER BROS filed a lawsuit.

Caridi faces the possibility of another fine after COLUMBIA PICTURES also filed a copyright case against him.

Sprague, 51, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to copyright infringement.