Iowa Athlete Gambling Scandal Leads to Division of Criminal Investigation Lawsuit

Article by : Erik Gibbs Apr 29, 2024

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In a legal occurrence that has shaken the collegiate sports community in Iowa, lawyers representing 26 athletes from three prominent universities have filed a federal lawsuit accusing law enforcement officers of violating their constitutional rights through the illegal use of geofencing technology.

The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of Iowa in Des Moines, specifically targets Iowa’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). It alleges unreasonable seizures and violations of the athletes’ Fourth and 14th Amendment rights.

The plaintiffs, comprised of 16 athletes from the University of Iowa, nine from Iowa State University, and one from a central Iowa community college, represent various sports, including football, wrestling, baseball, and basketball.

The crux of the lawsuit revolves around allegations that DCI agents unlawfully accessed information on the athletes’ cell phones without obtaining warrants, leading to a series of detrimental consequences for the individuals involved.

At the heart of the controversy is the utilization of geofencing technology by DCI special agent Brian Sanger, who reportedly used software provided by GeoComply to establish virtual boundaries around athletic facilities in early 2023.

While the software itself did not have the capability to identify specific individuals, it enabled access to gambling site account numbers within the designated areas.

Subsequently, DCI subpoenaed records from sports betting companies to unveil the identities of the account holders, ultimately resulting in criminal charges being brought against several athletes for offenses such as underage gambling and identity theft.

However, the legal matter is exacerbated by the revelation that Sanger admitted, during a deposition, to never obtaining warrants while employing the geofencing software. This admission prompted GeoComply to terminate its partnership with DCI, signaling potential irregularities in the technology’s utilization.

Subsequent attempts by state law enforcement to acquire warrants to search the athletes’ phones are now under scrutiny, with the lawsuit contending that these warrants were based on illegally obtained information.

The fallout from the investigation has been profound, with 16 athletes initially facing criminal charges, leading to guilty pleas from some for underage gambling and felony identity theft charges against others.

However, in a significant turn of events, cases against four athletes were dismissed in March due to investigators allegedly overstepping their bounds.

Furthermore, even athletes who managed to avoid formal charges have alleged negative repercussions on their collegiate careers, including lost playing time and potential sanctions from the NCAA, which prohibits players from engaging in sports wagering activities.

The lawsuit names DCI, the state of Iowa, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) as defendants, along with specific individuals involved, seeking damages for 26 athletes.

These damages include deprivation of constitutional rights, humiliation, emotional distress, and medical expenses.

Iowa authorities maintain their use of GeoComply technology was lawful, but the lawsuit alleges serious violations of constitutional rights, raising questions about surveillance practices.

This case underscores the risks of unchecked surveillance technologies and their impact on individuals’ liberties. For the athletes, pursuing justice is both about vindication and safeguarding rights in a digitized world.