Charges Dismissed After Motion to Suppress Filed in Pinellas County Drug Case
Attorney Michael J. Petro is pleased to announce a successful defense result: Pinellas County drug charges dismissed against Mr. Eric Eugene Mozell, Sr. after Attorney Petro filed a Motion to Suppress challenging the legality of the...
IP Address Linked to a Residence Is Enough to Search
Jesse Featherly challenges the denial of his motion to quash the search warrant that led to the discovery of child pornography on his computer. Featherly was living in a trailer park in Wisconsin when an agent in Oklahoma discovered that Featherly’s Internet-service account was being used to share files containing child pornography.
The Fourth Amendment 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...
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...
Busted! DEA’s Use of “Stingray” Cell Phone Locator Without a Warrant is Illegal!
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
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...
Search and Seizure Traffic Stop – Suspicion of Texting While Driving Is Not Enough. Case Dismissed
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...
Search and Seizure Traffic Stop by Police: Officers Mistake Regarding Illinois Turn Signal Law Leads to Suppression of Evidence
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...