United States v. Al-Marri
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
230 F. Supp. 2d 535 (2002)

- Written by Alex Ruskell, JD
Facts
The FBI believed that Ali Al-Marri (defendant) was involved in the 9-11 attacks. Al-Marri was a graduate student in computer science in Illinois. When FBI agents went to Al-Marri’s home to question him, they asked for and received consent to search his home. Upon seeing Al-Marri’s laptop, the agents asked if they could take it to their office to take a look at it. Al-Marri agreed and helped them pack it up. The agents then took Al-Marri back to their office, and while they were questioning him, Al-Marri asked when he would get his computer back. The agents told Al-Marri that he would not get it back that night. Later, the agents searched Al-Marri’s laptop and found stolen credit-card information. At his trial for unauthorized possession of access devices with intent to defraud, Al-Marri argued that the scope of his consent to search his home did not extend to the government seizing his computer for inspection of its hard drive.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Marrero, J.)
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