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aladdin4d 12/12/2014

The ACLU uncovered a chain of emails showing the US Marshall's office requested that Florida agencies conceal their use of the Stingray device. The Sarasota Sheriff's office on the advice and concerns of an Assistant State Attorney took it a step farther and began instructing officers of other agencies to lie on probable cause affidavits. They determined that if they told a judge the information came from a "confidential source" instead from using a Stingray it wouldn't be challenged.

http://tinyurl.com/lxgam76

The actual emails:

http://tinyurl.com/pty8zxl

Trying to hide the use of Stingray devices isn't just a Floriduh issue either. Tacoma, WA police not only hid it's use but hoodwinked the city council into approving a $63,000.00 upgrade by saying:

“This new equipment offers enhanced technological capabilities for the Tacoma Police Department Explosives Ordnance Detail (EOD) with IED (improvised explosive device) prevention, protection, response and recovery measures.”

It's never been used for those purposes.

http://tinyurl.com/q3pewas

rewdiazepam 12/12/2014

The FBI does this all the time with "parallel construction."

They obtain evidence either illegally or through some questionable means and then have to make up a story---basically lie---to get it into evidence by saying they obtained the evidence in some legal fashion, such as an informant.

I suspect they have used "parallel construction" in cases such as the Silk Road on the DarkNet where they made up some story about how they found the hidden servers. I suspect they were actually hacked illegally, but they cannot reveal that or their case would crumble.

rewdiazepam

Advocate2 12/12/2014

I wonder what happens to the cases where these devices were used illegally and lied about?

Advocate2 12/12/2014

I also wonder why the major news stations do not report on stuff like this? It is very easy to see how conspiracy theories crop up when it seems to be purposely kept out of major news -

Independent2014 12/12/2014

Fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine goes down in flames when law enforcement decides the ends justify the means.

ThoughtAsWeak 12/12/2014

It was reported in a news story in my neck of the woods. The sherif tried to say that it was being used to help prevent crime (terrorists, etc). Many people came out to say that the government was wrong to use this, as the government is snooping into law abiding citizens' phone calls. Still didn't change anything, they are still using it.

Independent2014 12/12/2014

They are defecating all over the 4th amendment with this and we are so scared with as a society we are applauding it. If it saves one child -- if it stops the terrorists.

aladdin4d 12/12/2014

This case is specifically about cell phone location data but the legal experts think it will extend to the use of Stingrays as well because they track the same data.The Florida Supreme Court ruled a warrant is necessary to collect and use location data in an investigation

http://tinyurl.com/qdslkrj

In theory this means every case in which a Stingray was used needs to be looked into because because any information obtained by its use is inadmissible evidence. The problem is because law enforcement hid the use of the device and listed the information as coming from a confidential source there is no way to determine what cases it was used on. Earlier this year the US Marshall's Office seized all records pertaining to the use of the Stingray by the Sarasota Sheriff's Office so now not even the Sheriff's office has a record of what cases they used it on making it impossible for a defendant to compel that information for use in his defense. These defendants have had multiple rights violated but are left with no way to prove it.

Advocate2 12/12/2014

sheep to the slaughter

Independent2014 12/12/2014

Freedom of information act is rendered impotent when it comes to matters of "national security".

westdenali 12/12/2014

After i read more about this it is scary. Do you realize the information that these devices can have access to? I would be more worried about invasion of privacy rules versus using them to track people. I wouldnt lie about it and if i was asked to by my higher ups not only would i quit i would report it. But then again i see how the chain of command goes. So guess i would have to report this to an outside agency. I can definately see this as the norm in 10 years or less.

rewdiazepam 12/12/2014

Good grief. Is there anything in Florida that law enforcement does that is NOT questionable or sleazy?

That place seems to be just a whole cesspool of corruption.

rewdiazepam

Advocate2 12/12/2014

yeah Rew but in this case the feds were telling them to do it! what does that tell you? Tells me we are in deep crap in this country

rewdiazepam 12/12/2014

Advocate,

This country has been in deep crap for quite a while now. I believe the demise began with the War on Drugs which was a miserable failure. That is when the SWAT teams were formed and our rights began slipping away.

Then came 9/11 and The Patriot Act. We are entering Police State or at lease "Surveillance State" territory now.

rewdiazepam

westdenali 12/12/2014

I agree Advocate. This goes beyond the local cops. Yeah..call it a conspiracy or whatever. But the power lies in the higher ups. Ok... i am not or i am not trying to shift the blame. I am not a finger pointer. However oopps i almost swore, stuff runs down hill. Its one huge ass snowball. So now what? What can i do? I dont have much power since i am at the bottom. So it is a shit sandwhich. Can shit run uphill? Not sure. But my dog is out of the fight soon. I cant solve these problems. I will forever fight for the rights of us Americans. And i will do what i can to run the shit uphill. Yes..i think it a losing battle.

Advocate2 12/13/2014

See West I believe you but if you ever do find yourself in a situation like this - make sure you watch your back! In the last few years LE that have been whistle blowers have not fared well at all - someone posted an article on here not long ago about how the feds have special files with CP impressed in them just for situations where the want to shut someone up. Sounds crazy doesn't it?? But it has happened.

This is not the only device that is suspected of spying on citizens - as we all concur - we are all in deep doo-doo

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