What's next- using the Patriot Act to catch you for returning library books late? The Patriot Act is a wet dream for prosecutors and cops everywhere.
[hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"]Patriot Act Catches a Baby-Food Thief
Tue Apr 04 2006 10:03:08 ET
The case of Samih Jammal, convicted with the help of the Patriot Act and FISA wiretaps of fencing stolen baby formula, sits on the fine line between the government's terrorism-fighting role and its duty to protect citizen's rights.
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports the use of FISA warrants helped prosecuted Arizona grocery wholesaler Jammal, who was convicted of operating a baby formula theft ring.
The JOURNAL notes that Jammal, a "U.S. citizen born in Lebanon, was never charged with any offense related to terrorism."
Jammal "is appealing, contending that FISA evidence used against him was illegally obtained and crippled his defense. ... 'It's baby formula of mass destruction here,' he said at one pretrial hearing."
