FBI and Stolen Evidence Use

Dani · Feb 20, 2012

I have a question about the FBI and if they're able to use evidence stolen by someone else and turned into them. This could include anything such as documents, a gun, pictures etc.

If someone finds something during the commission of a crime and turns it in (anonymously), can the FBI use that information to obtain a warrant etc?

(I did try and do a search for this, but if anyone has a thread where this has been asked, please let me know).

Snick · Feb 20, 2012

I believe that they would be very leery of using any evidence that was gotten illegally. They might use it as a lever to get the same information legally, but there would be problems if they tried using something like that in court.

jclarkdawe · Feb 20, 2012

See Police arrest man for child pornography after tipoff from burglars -

Best of luck,

Jim Clark-Dawe

jeseymour · Feb 20, 2012

jclarkdawe said:
See Police arrest man for child pornography after tipoff from burglars -

Best of luck,

Jim Clark-Dawe

That's happened more than once, actually. I used the same scenario in a short story, Brotherly Love, published in Beat to a Pulp in 2009. I got the idea from a news story. The byline on the link Jim posted is 2011.

Steve Collins · Feb 20, 2012

Yes, something similar happened in the UK. A Burglar walked into a police station with a briefcase containing a submachine gun. He put it on the counter and said "I'm a burglar, but this is way too hot for me". We raided the house and took down the owner.

ironmikezero · Feb 20, 2012

Notwithstanding how it was acquired, evidence surrendered to an agency, that was not procured by law enforcement agents, may be used in the investigation and subsequent prosecution in the US.

Pragmatically speaking, there would be considerable effort made to further corroborate/refute the validity and relevancy of said evidence.

Bottom line - yes... it does happen, more than most folks would think.

Dani · Feb 21, 2012

Thank you all so much for your help. Rep given!

FBI and Stolen Evidence Use

Dani

Cuddly sweet teddy bear!

Snick

jclarkdawe

Feeling lucky, Query?

jeseymour

Steve Collins

ironmikezero

practical experience, FTW

Dani

Cuddly sweet teddy bear!