greencup
May 19th, 2001, 08:51 PM
October 11, 2000
The Cullman County homes of three state troopers and one other person were searched as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged illegal use and distribution of satellite television programming, The Times has learned.
According to search warrant documents filed in the Cullman County District Clerk’s office, the homes of troopers Brian Grimmett and Nathan Small, former trooper Eddie Owen, and Gary Miller, all of Cullman, were targeted in the search.
It could not be learned at presstime whether Small and Owen are among the four troopers who officials said resigned last week in connection with the investigation.
Grimmett has not resigned, his attorney said Tuesday.
No arrests have been made and no charges filed in the case.
Grimmett’s attorney, Tommy Drake, emphatically denied his client had violated the law.
“He denies his involvement and maintains his innocence,” Drake said. “He has not resigned and he will not resign.”
The other three named in the warrants could not be reached for comment.
Affidavits showing cause for the warrants have not yet been made public.
The warrants, issued on Sept. 29 by Circuit Judge Frank Brunner, called for the recovery of satellite TV access cards used to obtain programming and satellite receivers or decoders.
In addition, the warrants targeted computer equipment and programs used for cloning the access cards or for the sale or programming of the cards.
All four of the homes searched yielded evidence, according to recovery reports filed by Alabama Bureau of Investigation Officer Scott Thompson.
In the homes of Grimmett and Owen, ABI officers recovered satellite receivers, regular access cards and cloned access cards, court records show. Many satellite systems allow access to programming via a credit card-sized access card with an embedded computer chip. Hackers can manipulate the cards to gain access to the full range of satellite programming without paying for a subscription.
In addition to recovering satellite equipment from Small and Miller, officers also confiscated computer systems, electronic media and assorted papers pertaining to the case, records show.
Access card reprogramming equipment was taken from Miller’s and Small’s houses, court documents show. Known separately as a looper and unlooper, the equipment allows the user to erase information from an access card and return it to its original status. The equipment operates in conjunction with a personal computer and software to re-set the cards.
Officers also confiscated a number of wreck reports and driver’s license information from a filing cabinet in Small’s house, records show.
Attorney Drake questioned the ABI’s involvement in executing the warrants. “I’m frankly amazed at Attorney General [Bill] Pryor and the ABI coming into Cullman County. They did not orchestrate any enforcement efforts with local law enforcement officials, neither the Cullman County Sheriff’s Department or the City of Cullman,” said Drake.
Pryor has said that grand jury indictments may eventually be sought against some or all of the persons investigated.
The Cullman County homes of three state troopers and one other person were searched as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged illegal use and distribution of satellite television programming, The Times has learned.
According to search warrant documents filed in the Cullman County District Clerk’s office, the homes of troopers Brian Grimmett and Nathan Small, former trooper Eddie Owen, and Gary Miller, all of Cullman, were targeted in the search.
It could not be learned at presstime whether Small and Owen are among the four troopers who officials said resigned last week in connection with the investigation.
Grimmett has not resigned, his attorney said Tuesday.
No arrests have been made and no charges filed in the case.
Grimmett’s attorney, Tommy Drake, emphatically denied his client had violated the law.
“He denies his involvement and maintains his innocence,” Drake said. “He has not resigned and he will not resign.”
The other three named in the warrants could not be reached for comment.
Affidavits showing cause for the warrants have not yet been made public.
The warrants, issued on Sept. 29 by Circuit Judge Frank Brunner, called for the recovery of satellite TV access cards used to obtain programming and satellite receivers or decoders.
In addition, the warrants targeted computer equipment and programs used for cloning the access cards or for the sale or programming of the cards.
All four of the homes searched yielded evidence, according to recovery reports filed by Alabama Bureau of Investigation Officer Scott Thompson.
In the homes of Grimmett and Owen, ABI officers recovered satellite receivers, regular access cards and cloned access cards, court records show. Many satellite systems allow access to programming via a credit card-sized access card with an embedded computer chip. Hackers can manipulate the cards to gain access to the full range of satellite programming without paying for a subscription.
In addition to recovering satellite equipment from Small and Miller, officers also confiscated computer systems, electronic media and assorted papers pertaining to the case, records show.
Access card reprogramming equipment was taken from Miller’s and Small’s houses, court documents show. Known separately as a looper and unlooper, the equipment allows the user to erase information from an access card and return it to its original status. The equipment operates in conjunction with a personal computer and software to re-set the cards.
Officers also confiscated a number of wreck reports and driver’s license information from a filing cabinet in Small’s house, records show.
Attorney Drake questioned the ABI’s involvement in executing the warrants. “I’m frankly amazed at Attorney General [Bill] Pryor and the ABI coming into Cullman County. They did not orchestrate any enforcement efforts with local law enforcement officials, neither the Cullman County Sheriff’s Department or the City of Cullman,” said Drake.
Pryor has said that grand jury indictments may eventually be sought against some or all of the persons investigated.