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The DoD Inspector General (or at least his letterhead) is - along with DCIS, NCIS and US Atty's office in
LA - investigating stolen military property.
Various folks have been contacted by mail stating that investigatory leads from online purchases (Craigslist,
EBay and Calguns) led to the contact of the addressed individual.
[I do not know the details of the products/items in question - just stuff? ITAR-controlled stuff? actual firearms?
Given lack of announcement of any ATF involvement, though, I suspect no actual guns/receivers or prohibited
ammo involved.]
The individual is told he "is not targeted by this investigation", and he is requested - in a somewhat firm tone
designed to drive/promote "compliance" - to contact a special agent handling these matters.
I do not want to tell anyone to not comply, hate people that steal from the gov't (though the gov't is the biggest
thief around, in many respects) or remotely recommend anything that can be construed as hindering investigations,
etc.... but it is fully legal for me to recommend seeking counsel before responding to this letter.
... SO ...
... I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU CONTACT AN ATTORNEY AND SEEK LEGAL ADVISE _BEFORE_ MAKING CONTACT.
YOU SHOULD USE AN ATTORNEY AS AN INTERMEDIARY TO PROTECT *YOUR* RIGHTS, as most people are
simply not prepared to confront the serried ranks of Fed investigators & attorneys who continually need to
demonstrate 'work product'.
Due to 18 USC 1001, anything you might not remember/recount properly in statements, depositions etc can inflate to
"lying to a Federal officer", etc. You can easily end up with an accidental felony with an overzealous prosecutor who
can't make his main case.
IGNORE STATEMENTS THAT "You are not a target." You're not a target until you are, and make yourself one.
Your attorney can set up things such that you have certain protections you'd not have, and "walk you around"
risk elements if he decides to, with you, volunteer contact.
If they come to your door without a warrant you do not have to let them in. You should only say, "I need to contact
my attorney." Beware that they may put multiple people at your front and other doors and be very intimindating.
REMEMBER IF THEY COULD GET A WARRANT THEY ALREADY WOULD HAVE DONE SO!
DO NOT DENY GUILT/ASSERT INNOCENCE. IT CAN ONLY CAUSE PROBLEMS. ONLY SAY "I NEED TO TALK TO MY
ATTORNEY."
(IF SOME OTHER TRIVIAL VIOLATION WERE TO HAVE OCCURRED OVER A MATTER YOU DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND,
THIS THEN COULD BE USED AGAINST YOU AS A "MISSTATEMENT" OR "LYING TO A FEDERAL AGENT." AVOID THAT
RATHOLE.
Remember also that failing, flailing-about Federal cases often end up with desperate US Attorneys & investigators eager
to "show work product" - so as the major case fails, they look to "accessory" items like perjury & other such matters to
put "skins on the wall."
[Slightly different, but remember Martha Stewart and Scooter Libby were convicted not of their primary charges but
"misstatement" crap. If they had STFU'd and followed lawyer advice they might be nonfelons today.]
REMEMBER THAT UPON RECEIPT OF THIS LETTER THE REST OF YOUR LIFE SHOULD BE SQUARED AWAY - no pot
plants, IRS tax issues, illegally configured firearms (Fed OR California!), steroids (yes, that's been an issue
in the past!) etc. Expect risk of any area of your life to be an issue and remember THAT FAMILY & ROOMATES
CAN CAUSE ISSUES (including allowing searches against your will.)
LA - investigating stolen military property.
Various folks have been contacted by mail stating that investigatory leads from online purchases (Craigslist,
EBay and Calguns) led to the contact of the addressed individual.
[I do not know the details of the products/items in question - just stuff? ITAR-controlled stuff? actual firearms?
Given lack of announcement of any ATF involvement, though, I suspect no actual guns/receivers or prohibited
ammo involved.]
The individual is told he "is not targeted by this investigation", and he is requested - in a somewhat firm tone
designed to drive/promote "compliance" - to contact a special agent handling these matters.
I do not want to tell anyone to not comply, hate people that steal from the gov't (though the gov't is the biggest
thief around, in many respects) or remotely recommend anything that can be construed as hindering investigations,
etc.... but it is fully legal for me to recommend seeking counsel before responding to this letter.
... SO ...
... I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU CONTACT AN ATTORNEY AND SEEK LEGAL ADVISE _BEFORE_ MAKING CONTACT.
YOU SHOULD USE AN ATTORNEY AS AN INTERMEDIARY TO PROTECT *YOUR* RIGHTS, as most people are
simply not prepared to confront the serried ranks of Fed investigators & attorneys who continually need to
demonstrate 'work product'.
Due to 18 USC 1001, anything you might not remember/recount properly in statements, depositions etc can inflate to
"lying to a Federal officer", etc. You can easily end up with an accidental felony with an overzealous prosecutor who
can't make his main case.
IGNORE STATEMENTS THAT "You are not a target." You're not a target until you are, and make yourself one.
Your attorney can set up things such that you have certain protections you'd not have, and "walk you around"
risk elements if he decides to, with you, volunteer contact.
If they come to your door without a warrant you do not have to let them in. You should only say, "I need to contact
my attorney." Beware that they may put multiple people at your front and other doors and be very intimindating.
REMEMBER IF THEY COULD GET A WARRANT THEY ALREADY WOULD HAVE DONE SO!
DO NOT DENY GUILT/ASSERT INNOCENCE. IT CAN ONLY CAUSE PROBLEMS. ONLY SAY "I NEED TO TALK TO MY
ATTORNEY."
(IF SOME OTHER TRIVIAL VIOLATION WERE TO HAVE OCCURRED OVER A MATTER YOU DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND,
THIS THEN COULD BE USED AGAINST YOU AS A "MISSTATEMENT" OR "LYING TO A FEDERAL AGENT." AVOID THAT
RATHOLE.
Remember also that failing, flailing-about Federal cases often end up with desperate US Attorneys & investigators eager
to "show work product" - so as the major case fails, they look to "accessory" items like perjury & other such matters to
put "skins on the wall."
[Slightly different, but remember Martha Stewart and Scooter Libby were convicted not of their primary charges but
"misstatement" crap. If they had STFU'd and followed lawyer advice they might be nonfelons today.]
REMEMBER THAT UPON RECEIPT OF THIS LETTER THE REST OF YOUR LIFE SHOULD BE SQUARED AWAY - no pot
plants, IRS tax issues, illegally configured firearms (Fed OR California!), steroids (yes, that's been an issue
in the past!) etc. Expect risk of any area of your life to be an issue and remember THAT FAMILY & ROOMATES
CAN CAUSE ISSUES (including allowing searches against your will.)
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