seisure warrent documents for ripco bbs.txt

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          ***  SEIZURE WARRANT DOCUMENTS FOR RIPCO BBS  ***

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On May 8, 1990, RIPCO BBS was closed and the equipment seized as the result
of a seizure warrant. FULL DISCLOSURE Magazine obtained publicly available
copies of the various documents related to the warrant, which are
reproduced below.

The documents include (in order presented):

1. Government's petition for Assistance during Execution of Search Warrant
2. ORDER approving assistance
3. Order authorizing blocking out income telephone and data calls
4. Application for order to block out calls
5. Application and affidavit for seizure warrant (Barbara Golden, affiant)
6. Application and affidavit for seizure warrant (G. Kirt Lawson, affiant)

Attached to the original documents (but not presented here) are an
application (by Ira H. Raphaelson and William J. Cook, United States
attorney and AUSA) to suppress the seizure warrant for 90 days, and a
variety of photographs of Dr. Ripco's premises.


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Government's Petition for Assistance
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                     UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                    NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
                           EASTERN DIVISION

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA        )
                                )
          v.                    )    No. 90-M-187 & 90-M-188
                                )    Magistrate James T. Balog
                                )
xxxx NORTH CLYBOURN, CHICAGO    )
ILLINOIS AND xxxx NORTH         )
LAWNDALE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS     )


                 GOVERNMENT'S PETITION FOR ASSISTANCE
                  DURING EXECUTION OF SEARCH WARRANT

    The United States of America, by its attorney, Ira H.
Raphaelson, United States Attorney for the Northern District of
Illinois, petitions this Court for an order directing
representatives of AT&T's Corporate Security Division to accompany
Special Agents of the Secret Service during the execution of the
search warrant against the premises of xxxx North Clybourn,
Chicago, Illinois, and xxxx North Lawndale, Chicago, Illinois. This
petition is supported by the following:
     1. The affidavit of Special Agent Barbara Golden of the
Secret Service is incorporated herein by reference.
     2. AT&T has offered the assistance of Jerry Dalton and John
Hickey of AT&T Corporate Security/Information Protection to the
government and this Court. Both men are very experienced in the
operation of computers and especially in the analysis of UNIX
systems.
     3. We also request that Sergeant Abigail Abrahams of the
Illinois State Police be authorized in the execution of the
aforementioned warrants. Sergeant Abrahams has investigated the
computer bulletin board (BBS) operation since approximately 1988

                                - 1 -

and has extensive details with respect to the structure of the BBS
and its contents.

     While these individuals will not be seizing evidence, their
assistance is necessary to quickly read and identify the
critical files in the computer being searched. Moreover, their presence
during the search will insure that the records on the computer are
not accidentally erased and remain intact.


                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                    IRA H. RAPHAELSON
                                    United States Attorney


                                BY: (signature of)
                                    WILLIAM J. COOK
                                    Assistant United States Attorney

                                - 3 -


                     UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                    NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
                           EASTERN DIVISION

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA        )
                                )
          v.                    )    No. 90-M-187 & 90-M-188
                                )    Magistrate James T. Balog
                                )
xxxx NORTH CLYBOURN, CHICAGO    )
ILLINOIS AND xxxx NORTH         )
LAWNDALE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS     )


                                ORDER

     In view of the specialized nature of the evidence that is
being sought in this warrant, _______________, as indicated in the
government's petition and the affidavit for the search warrant,
which is incorporated herein by reference;
     It is Hereby Ordered that representatives of AT&T's Corporate
Security Division and Sergeant Abigail Abrahams of the Illinois
State Police accompany Special Agents of the United States Secret
Service during the execution of the search warrant to assist those
agents in the recovery and identification of the evidence sought
in the warrant.


                                    (signature) James T. Balog
                     5-7-90          UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE


                                   - 3 -



                     UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                    NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
                           EASTERN DIVISION

IN THE MATTER OF THE             )
APPLICATION OF THE UNITED STATES )
OF AMERICAN FOR AN ORDER FOR THE )   No. 90-M-187 & 90-M-188
BLOCKING OF INCOMING TELEPHONE   )   Magistrate James T. Balog
AND DATA CALLS AT (312 )528-5020 )
(312 )xxx-xxxx AND (312)xxx-xxxx )

ORDER AUTHORIZING BLOCKING OUT INCOME TELEPHONE DATA CALLS

     An application having been made before me by Colleen D.
Coughlin, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern
District of Illinois, pursuant to Title 28, United States Code,
Section 1651, for an Order to "block out" incoming telephone and
data calls by the Illinois Bell Telephone company, and there is
reason to believe that requested actions are relevant to a
legitimate law enforcement investigation;

      IT IS ORDERED THAT:

      1. Illinois Bell Telephone company servicing said telephone
lines shall "Block out" of incoming telephone and data calls on
[phone], (312) xxx-xxxx and (312) xxx-xxxx, which telephone
and data lines are on premises which are the subject of federal
search warrants to be executed the 8th day of May, 1990 at
approximately 0630 hours. Such "blocking out" of incoming
telephone and data calls shall commence at 0500 hours on May 8,
1990 and continue up to and incoming 1700 hours on May 8, 1990, or
until the completion of the search warrants, whichever is the
earlier.

      2. The "blocking out" of incoming telephone and data calls
will likely assist in the execution of search warrants seeking

                                - 4 -

evidence of violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections
1343, 1030, 1962, 1963, and 371.


                              (signature of)
                              JAMES T. BALOG
                              Magistrate

         5-7-89 (sic)


                                - 5 -


                     UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                    NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
                           EASTERN DIVISION

IN THE MATTER OF THE             )
APPLICATION OF THE UNITED STATES )
OF AMERICAN FOR AN ORDER FOR THE )   No. 90-M-187 & 90-M-188
BLOCKING OF INCOMING TELEPHONE   )   Magistrate James T. Balog
AND DATA CALLS AT (312 )528-5020 )
(312 )xxx-xxxx AND (312)xxx-xxxx )


                        A P P L I C A T I O N


     Now comes the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, by IRA H. RAPHAELSON,
United States Attorney and Colleen D. Coughlin, Assistant United
States Attorney, and makes application pursuant to Title 28, United
States Code, Section 1651, the All Writs Act, for an Order to stop
or "block out" incoming telephone calls to particular telephone
and/or data lines, as described below, by the Illinois Bell
Telephone Company.

     In support of this Application the undersigned states as
follows:

     1.  This Application seeks an order requiring the Illinois
Bell Telephone Company to "block out" incoming telephone and data
calls from 0500 hours until 1700 on May 8, 1990 regarding the
following numbers [phone], (312) xxx-xxxx and (312) xxx-
xxxx.

     2. The United States Secret Service has been conducting a
two year investigation into the activities of computer hackers
which will result in thirty-two search warrants being executed
across the United States on May 8, 1990 beginning at 0630 hours.

     3. Because the United States Secret Service needs to ensure
the integrity of the evidence at each of these locations from
remote access tampering, alteration, or destruction, this "blocking
out" order is required.

     4. This action by Illinois Bell Telephone will only "block
out" incoming calls and the telephones will at all times be capable
of making "outgoing" calls. Thus, the telephone lines will at all
times be available for emergency outgoing calls.

     5. It is reasonably believed by the United States Secret
Service, based on experience and their investigation in this
case, that the requested action will be of substantial assistance
in forwarding this criminal investigation.

     6. The All Writs Act, 28 U.S.C. 1651, provides as follows:

             The Supreme Court and all courts
        established by the Act of Congress may issue all
        writs necessary and appropriate in aid of their
        respective jurisdictions and agreeable to the
        uses and principles of law.

     7. A Federal Court has power to issue "such commands under
the All Writs Act as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate
and prevent the frustration of orders it has previously issued in
the exercise of its jurisdiction...." UNITED STATES v. NEW YORK
TELEPHONE CO., 434 U.S. 159, 172 (1977).

     WHEREFORE, on the basis of the allegations contained in this
Application, applicant requests this Court to enter an order for
"blocking out" of income telephone and/or data calls at the above
described telephone numbers.

     It is further requested that Illinois Bell Telephone Company
may be ordered to make no disclosure of the existence of this
Application and Order until further order of this Court since

                                - 2 -

disclosure of this request to the individual or individuals whose
telephone lines are affected would threaten or impede this computer
investigation.


                                   Respectfully submitted,

                                   IRA H. RAPHAELSON
                                   United States Attorney


                               By:  (signed)
                                   COLLEEN D. COUGHLIN
                                   Assistant United States Attorney



                                - 3 -

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{transcriber's note:}
Following is the APPLICATION AND AFFADAVIT FOR SEIZURE WARRANT,
Case number 90-M-187, dated May 7, 1990.

Affiant: Barbara Golden, Special Agent, U.S. Secret Service
Location: United State District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Judicial Officer: Magistrate James T. Balog