Agent involved in Iowa gambling investigation testifies that search of athletes was illegal

Iowa and Iowa State athletes claiming a gambling investigation from the state involved an “unwarranted search” received a big testimony. According to Adam Rittenberg of ESPN, special agent Mark Ludwick of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation testified that the DCI “engaged in an illegal search of Iowa students athletes and dozens of others’ online account information.”

The news comes after it was reported Monday that former Iowa State defensive lineman Isaiah Lee filed a motion that claimed the DCI conducted the investigation despite not having evidence to do so. A total of 16 players from Iowa State and Iowa were charged, with nine of those being Cyclones.

Ludwick testified that he and other special agents interviewed athletes for the investigation. He claimed he was told by special agent in charge Troy Nelson that the investigation was “purely administrative” and would focus on companies such as FanDuel and DraftKings instead of the players.

Lee was one of the players whom Ludwick interviewed, with the special agent assuring him that the investigation would not result in criminal charges. However, when Ludwick returned with his findings. Nelson “congratulated” him on “obtaining a confession.”

That’s when Ludwick realized there was more to the investigation than he was led to believe. Realizing that the “purpose of the investigation was criminal in nature, with the sole target being male Division I athletes at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University,” he requested to be reassigned.

“Ludwick concluded that DCI conducted an illegal search of Iowa student athletes and dozens of others’ personal online account information because the agency did not obtain a GeoFence warrant as well as lacked reasonable, articulable suspicion to conduct such a search,” a motion filed on behalf of Cyclones wrestler Paniro Johnson read.

Johnson was charged with Class D felony identity theft as a result of the investigation.

How the Iowa gambling investigation began

The motion filed Monday by Lee describes how the investigation into the gambling activity at Iowa and Iowa State began with Brian Sanger, a Special Agent at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. It alleges that he used the software Kibana to place a “warrantless GeoFence” around freshman and sophomore dorms at the University of Iowa “without any tips, complaints or evidence that underage gambling was occurring.”

Sanger discovered that online gambling accounts were opened in the dorms, but was unable to determine whether bets had been placed. He asked his superior, Troy Nelson, for permission to continue the investigation but was told no.

At that point, Sanger turned his attention to an athletic facility on the Iowa campus with restricted access to athletes, coaches and support staff. He discovered the same information as he had at the dorms, but this time was given the go-ahead to continue his investigation.

“Again, this was done without a warrant, tips, complaints or evidence that illegal gambling was occurring,” the motion reads. “…Without reasonable cause the team of Special Agents targeted more facilities as well as began requesting subpoenas to obtain account information on hundreds of private citizens’ private information, which was also without reasonable cause.”