The owner of a North Providence computer store awaits sentencing in February after pleading guilty in federal court Tuesday to charges that he sold illegal generic Viagra, pirated movies and installed computer software without paying license fees.

Ming Yan, 59, of Providence, who operates Automation Systems, 1270 Mineral Spring Ave, North Providence, pleaded guilty to three charges in U.S. District Court, U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha said Thursday.

During Tuesday’s plea hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Rogers said that on March 12, 2008, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Food and Drug Administration conducted a controlled delivery of a package to the North Providence address from India. After signing for the package, Rogers said, Yan admitted it was his and that he had ordered it from an Internet Web site. It contained 372 sildenafil citrate pills, which are prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction. They did not have FDA-approved labeling, and Yan had no prescription.

Agents searched Yan’s store and home and seized 1,165 pirated movie DVDs and DVD copying equipment, Rogers said.

Investigators also determined that Yan had installed Microsoft software without paying a license fee.

Yan is free on unsecured bond pending sentencing, set for Feb. 26, 2010. Maximum sentence for misbranding is a year in prison and a $100,000 fine; copyright infringement is three years and $250,000.

Donita Naylor