-Caveat Lector-
From:
http://www.2600.com/news/1999/1218.html
FEDS RAID ELECTRONIC HOBBY VENDORS
12/18/99
2600 has learned that several small electronic hobbyist vendors
were recently raided by federal agents brandishing semiautomatic
weapons. News of these raids has been kept out of the media and
many of those involved fear retribution if they openly discuss
the case. Until now, these companies had operated for years
selling harmless educational electronic kits (like wireless
microphones) to students, hobbyists, ham radio operators, and
hackers. Now their inventories are being seized at gunpoint--and
their owners could be facing bankruptcy and prison time.
The U.S. Dept. of Justice is apparently re-interpreting federal
wiretapping and smuggling laws to include small hobby radio
transmitters. Even possessing so-called "Mr. Microphone" type
toys can now put hobbyists at risk of looking down the barrel of
a federal agent's loaded gun, a felony conviction, federal prison
time, loss of property, and legal fees into the tens of thousands
of dollars.
Ramsey Electronics and Super Circuits are just two of the
companies recently raided at gunpoint. Both have good and
longstanding reputations for selling inexpensive, quality
educational kits and components to electronics hobbyists for many
years through ads in electronic hobby magazines and their
websites.
A high-ranking Justice Dept. official told one of the business
owners the orders for these raids are politically motivated and
originated from a very high level in the Clinton administration
as a result of the Linda Tripp wiretapping case. "They just need
convictions," the official said.
Earlier this year the Justice Dept. indicted Bill Cheek, the
well-known and loved author of books on radio scanner
modifications and Monitoring Times column writer. Bill was
selling very simple "data-slicer" circuits (made from parts
available at any Radio Shack) that could be used with a PC and a
scanner to monitor radio data transmissions--including
unencrypted police mobile data terminal (MDT) transmissions. Even
after Bill had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, the Federal
government refused to back off, even issuing a summons to court
on the same day he was to begin chemotherapy.
In 1995 2600's BernieS was locked up in five different
maximum-security prisons over 14 months by the Secret Service for
possessing his laptop computer, his software, and ordinary
electronic parts available at Radio Shack. He had been
distributing parts, software, books, and pamphlets about cellular
and coin telephones. The Justice Department's final investigation
report stated "There were no victims in the offense."
This is a clear pattern of harassment and abuse of power by our
Federal government against people teaching others about
electronic communications. It appears our government doesn't want
people to know this information. 2600 strongly feels this
knowledge is important for people to have, and will continue
spreading it at every opportunity. Write and call your
legislators to complain about this injustice. You could be next!
=================================================================
Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT
FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends
Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day.
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