Warrants, Illegal Searches and the “Third Party Doctrine”

Someone used the email address gslabs@hotmail.com to contact a Vietnamese website in an attempt to buy sassafras oil—a chemical that can be used to make the illegal drug known as ecstasy.   A key step in the investigation was learning that Caira was the person behind the gslabs@hotmail.com address. The DEA made that discovery...

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Busted! DEA’s Use of “Stingray” Cell Phone Locator Without a Warrant is Illegal!

US v. Raymond Lambis, 15cr734 (SDNY, Judge Pauley, July 12, 2016).

In 2015, the Drug Enforcement Administration (the “DEA”) conducted an
investigation into an international drug-trafficking organization.
As a part of that investigation, the DEA sought a warrant for pen register information and cell site location information (“CSLI”) for a...

Busted! DEA’s Use of “Stingray” Cell Phone Locator Without a Warrant is Illegal! Continue reading…

DEA’s Use of “Stingray” Device Without a Warrant is Illegal

US v. Raymond Lambis, 15cr734 (SDNY, Judge Pauley, July 12, 2016).

In 2015, the Drug Enforcement Administration (the “DEA”) conducted an
investigation into an international drug-trafficking organization.
As a part of that investigation, the DEA sought a warrant for pen register information and cell site location information (“CSLI”) for a...

DEA’s Use of “Stingray” Device Without a Warrant is Illegal Continue reading…

Search and Seizure Traffic Stop – Suspicion of Texting While Driving Is Not Enough. Case Dismissed

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. PANIAGUA-GARCIA, No. 15-2540

An Indiana statute forbids drivers to use a telecommunications device (a cellphone) to type, transmit, or read a text message or an electronic-mail message, Ind. Code § 9-21-8-59(a). All other uses of cellphones by drivers are allowed.  An Indiana police officer, in the course of passing...

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Search and Seizure Traffic Stop by Police: Officers Mistake Regarding Illinois Turn Signal Law Leads to Suppression of Evidence

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, v. LESHAWN STANBRIDGE, No. 15-2686.

LeShawn Stanbridge appeals his conviction for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The drugs had been found in Stanbridge’s car after police in Quincy, Illinois, detained him on the ground that he committed a traffic offense by not signaling continuously for...

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