Social Feeds

Be sure to Like and Follow FEDagent on Facebook for exclusive content and news stories affecting your career as federal law enforcement.

Subscribe!

Subscribe to our newsletter. It's FREE! Read our privacy policy
Print

About Us

FEDagent® is a free weekly E-Report providing up-to-date news for 1811 Special Agents and other federal employees engaged in the mission of federal law enforcement and homeland security. From top news stories in the federal law enforcement and homeland security arena, to understandable reporting on key court decisions, we deliver unfiltered, unbiased news in an easy-to-read, straightforward format, designed to keep our readers informed about their work force.

FEDagent is the Winner of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) 2006 National Media Award!

In addition to the top news stories, each week you'll find our regular feature columns:

The Takedown. Read this article each week to learn about the most recent and significant bust made by federal law enforcement. Whether it be news from the border, the world of fugitives, national security crimes, or law enforcement's efforts to combat drugs, we bring the details to you.

Movers & Shakers. If you want to follow the people who run the law enforcement agencies, read this article each week. Here we report on personnel changes of significance to let you know who's moved where and what they bring to their new position.

Case Law Update. We provide comprehensive summaries of recent court decisions in the area of criminal law, including the never-ending developments in search and seizure law, federal sentencing guidelines, and the law of governmental immunity. Our legal update is written by a lawyer, but without all that legal jargon, so that you can readily stay on top of key legal developments in the criminal law arena that affect how you do your job.

FEDagent.com has been on-line since 2002, and is proud to be known as the first, the original, and the only electronic report to exclusively serve the federal law enforcement community.

Published by the law firm of Shaw Bransford & Roth P.C. "Protecting the rights and representing the interests of federal law enforcement professionals, managers, and officers for more than 25 years." ©2002-2011.

Takedowns

Mailing of Pipe Bombs and Threatening Letters Stating "BANG!! YOU'RE DEAD." Lands Iowa Man in Prison for 37 Years

A former Iowa machinist has been sentenced to prison for mailing two pipe bombs and a dozen threatening letters to investment firms and advisors to help increase the value of the stock he owned in two companies.

John Tomkins, from Dubuque, Iowa, received 37 years in prison for, among other things, using a destructive device while mailing a threatening communication. Evidence presented at trial showed that the mailed parcels contained improvised explosive weapons (“pipe bombs”) which were capable of exploding and causing serious injury or death. Each parcel also contained a letter which stated “BANG!! YOU’RE DEAD.” Some of the letters were signed by “THE BISHOP” and concluded with “TIC TOC.”

Read more...

GEICO's Good Stuff

Navy Prepares to Purchase Ship Network Systems

GEICO’s Good Stuff is a column series highlighting great stuff happening in the federal community.

The Navy may soon be looking to procure standard networking computing equipment for its ships and submarines, according to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command.

Navy is expecting to release a request for proposals for the systems before the end of May. The Command had previously awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. an initial contract for its Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services system in February 2012. That contract was valued at $637.8 million and covered installation of the gear on 54 ships.

Read more...

Case Law Update

Seventh Circuit holds that a Suspect's Inquiry "Can you Call my Attorney?" Invoked Right to Counsel

Casey Hunter was shot by police officers in the course of a pursuit.  While Mr. Hunter was in the hospital and under the influence of medically administered morphine, he was Mirandized so that law enforcement officers could interrogate him.  Before answering questions, Mr. Hunter requested that officers contact his parents and his criminal defense attorney; Mr. Hunter specifically asked “can you call my attorney?” and identified his attorney by name as Herb Schultz, a criminal defense attorney, who one of the interrogating officers had previously worked with on several occasions.  Mr. Hunter’s attorney was not called, and additional law enforcement officers then arrived and subsequently interrogated Mr. Hunter.  Mr. Hunter made incriminating statements during his interrogation.  The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held that the statements made after the request for access to counsel violated the suspect’s constitutional right to counsel and must be suppressed. 

Read more...

Recent Takedowns

Recent GEICO Good Stuffs

Recent Case Law Updates