Info about "Sealed Indictments" (QRV)

submitted ago by 2854463?

As a lawfag and advisor to law enforcement, here is something everyone should consider:

  1. The long list of sealed case files are not necessarily indictments.

  2. Most are, in fact, probably search warrants.

  3. Search warrants generally must be served on the person being searched (and/or suspect) at the time the search is conducted.

  4. HOWEVER, for electronic surveillance (wiretaps, stingray and GPS trackers, email/text/browsing histories) and on RARE OCCASIONS actual physical searches may be conducted surreptitiously, keeping the person/suspect unaware of the search, if the government petitions for such based on good cause to believe that either evidence will be destroyed or the suspect will abscond from prosecution.

  5. The secrecy is time-limited, but the government can continue to maintain those items under seal by renewing the petitions until the court determines that the items should be un-sealed or the government determines that the secrecy should be ended.

So:

A. Are there 60k indictments? Probably not, and there's no way to tell. It's extremely likely that there are significantly more than 1,000, though. However, there is a HUGE number of search warrants. Hmmmm...

B. So, what does the publicly known information tell us? Well, correlate the locations of the cases with the statutes related to the sealed cases. That should tell you A LOT.

Have a nice day.

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15046875? ago

Nobody referred to theses as "concealed case files." Since the getgo they have been referred to as "sealed indictments." HUge difference.

15046976? ago

Concealed case files? Ain't no such thing. The existence of every case is public record, even if that record is classified (in the case of FISA). Court's don't do secret star-chamber stuff.

Q references to "sealed indictments" has never definitively stated a number...drop #1746 he says "50-60k SEALED INDICTMENTS. NOT ALL ARE FEDERAL/CRIMINAL".

Well, that tells me that there are civil cases (where indictments are not used, indictments are criminal process only) and that there are indictments in State courts, too. Ultimately, there might actually be around 50-60k, but they aren't all Fed.

And it's also possible that Q either 1) does not precisely understand those numbers, or 2) he's being misleading for a reason.