According to Fayetteville police, Wendell Alvin Corley has been in the illegal cable television business for quite some time, and business has been good.

The 63-year-old Fayetteville man was arrested Monday morning in the parking lot of Home Depot at Fayette Pavilion, concluding a joint undercover investigation between local police and MediaOne security personnel.

At a press conference Wednesday afternoon at the Fayetteville Police Department headquarters, a large table displayed a portion of what the would-be entrepreneur was allegedly using for his underground enterprise.

A total of 80 descramblers, or “black boxes,” were found in Corley's possession, along with a number of computer chips and other accessories that allowed him to construct devices for unauthorized reception of cable television services.

With the help of the computer chips, descramblers can be used to pick up basic cable channels, premium movie channels and pay-per-view services. Although illegal, they are often sold on the Internet and in various publications, according to MediaOne.

The result of this black market, MediaOne says, is a loss of $5 billion per year nationwide by cable companies. Corley's equipment alone could account for a $250,000 loss to MediaOne, he said.

“It's a tremendous loss to our industry as well as the community,” a MediaOne representative said.

Authorities have determined that he sold the boxes for up to $300 each, using equipment purchased wholesale from Florida and elsewhere.

Copies of his business card, identifying him as the “Cable Man” and even using an old MediaOne logo, were also displayed with the confiscated equipment.

Three handguns also were found. He had one in his van at the time of his arrest, but Fayetteville Police Lt. Tom Kirkbride said that he was completely cooperative and did not display the weapon.

Corley is charged with possession and selling of telecommunications devices, a felony in Georgia punishable with fines up to $1,000 and a 12-month prison sentence. He also faces federal charges for his actions.

Officials said that they learned of Corley through conversations with two other suspects recently arrested and charged with similar crimes in Fayette and DeKalb counties.

Corley had been in the illegal cable business locally at least six to eight weeks, and probably longer, police said. Authorities are still unsure how many boxes he has sold.

MediaOne representatives were quick to point out that customers who purchased boxes from Corley and continue to use them also are committing a felony, and the company will be on the lookout for them if they continue.

Such customers are encouraged to turn the boxes in immediately and MediaOne would like for them to become legitimate subscribers, a representative said Wednesday. Those who voluntarily turn the boxes in will likely be free of the threat of prosecution, he said.

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