Multiple Iowa, Iowa State athletes file lawsuit alleging violation of rights in gambling investigation

Athletes at Iowa and Iowa State filed a lawsuit Friday regarding an alleged violation of rights in the state’s gambling investigation. Multiple athletes were at the center of the inquiry and lost their eligibility as a result.

The lawsuit includes 26 athletes – 16 from Iowa and nine from Iowa State, along with one more from a local community college – argued investigators violated constitutional rights by using a geolocation software to track their cell phone activity. According to the lawsuit, the question is whether a search warrant was necessary to conduct such a search.

“The lives of these young men have been disrupted and altered in way[s] still yet to be fully seen,” the plaintiffs’ attorneys said in a statement, via ESPN. “It is our hope that through the civil action we can help these young men put their lives back on track and gain a measure of justice for the violation of their rights.”

The lawsuit comes months after a special agent testified the Division of Criminal Investigation “engaged in an illegal search of Iowa students athletes and dozens of others’ online account information.” The agent, Mark Ludwick, also said 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.

“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.

Then, last month, prosecutors dismissed charges against four former Iowa State athletes. The group includes Johnson and football players Jirehl Brock, Isaiah Lee and Eyioma Uwazurike as they all saw the charges against them dismissed.

“Due to this newly discovered evidence, the State no longer believes further prosecution in this matter is in the interests of justice,” a filing Murphy quoted on social media reads, in part. “[sic] The Defendant consents to dismissal of this case with costs assessed to the State. The Defendant has agreed to withdraw the Motion to Suppress. WHEREFORE, the State of Iowa, by and through the undersigned Assistant Story County Attorney, requests that this matter be dismissed with prejudice and with court costs assessed to the State.”

Chandler Vessels contributed to this report.