Leaked Emails Reveal Mishandling of DCI Investigation into Iowa College Gambling Scandal
There's a possibility that the investigation into underage gambling on college campuses by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) could gain significant attention, not only from the general public but also from the commissioner and possibly even the legislature. This was what Special Agent Christopher Adkins wrote in a 2023 email to two of his colleagues working on the case.
However, the attention the DCI received was not what Adkins had envisioned. In a lawsuit filed recently in the Des Moines federal court, 26 Iowa and Iowa State athletes claimed their rights were infringed upon and their reputations were damaged during the investigation, with evidence being obtained through unlawful warrantless searches.
According to the lawsuit, the DCI agents illegally accessed GeoComply's Kibana tracking software to secretly monitor betting habits without any reasonable suspicion of a crime taking place. As a result, the athletes' Constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment were violated, as per the complaint.
GeoComply provided this software to law enforcement agencies to help detect "hotspots," or locations with a high concentration of bets, in order to combat fraud. When the company found out that the DCI was using it to spy on college dorms, they removed the agency from the platform.
“Many [plaintiffs] have had their athletic careers terminated due to the State of Iowa's unconstitutional use of GeoComply's Kibana software. It is our hope that this civil action will help these young men regain control of their lives and achieve justice for the violation of their rights,” the lawsuit states.
Snooping Around
The lawsuit alleges that the DCI's real motive behind the investigation was to enhance the standing of its Sports Wagering Unit in the eyes of higher authorities.
A series of emails exchanged between DCI agents reveals their indifferent attitude towards the consequences of the investigation on the athletes' lives.
“If they get suspended or have a scholarship revoked, so be it,” Adkins wrote on February 2, 2023.
It wasn't until a month later, on March 3, 2023, that the constitutionality of the search was brought up by Special Agent Chris Swigart.
“How do we present this to the courts in a way that justifies the searches we're doing without a complaint or lead?” Swigart questioned in an email to special agent Troy Nelson.
“We're going to have trouble explaining how a law enforcement officer makes the decision to search for specific locations unrelated to any complaints or leads,” Swigart continued.
It seems that this issue wasn't even a concern for Nelson, who simply replied, "I'll have to think about this."
Making Cuts
The DCI investigation resulted in charges against 25 athletes and student managers, with many of them pleading guilty and paying fines, leading to consequences in their respective careers. However, some athletes, like Eyioma Uwazurike from Iowa State who was drafted by the Denver Broncos before being indefinitely suspended by the NFL, chose to challenge the charges.
On March 1, 2024, all remaining charges were dismissed without prejudice by a state court judge.
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Source: www.casino.org
