Lawyer Alleges DCI Agent Made 'Warrantless Searches' in Iowa Gambling Scandal

A lawyer representing several student-athletes implicated in the Iowa betting scandal alleges that law enforcement agents went rogue about a year ago and began probing betting activity inside a college dorm room without a warrant and against the commands of his supervisor. 

Van Plumb cited depositions of Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation agents conducted on Jan. 19 of 2023. 

According to Plumb, DCI Special Agent Brian Sanger's testimony revealed he started the investigation by using software to track bets placed inside a freshman and sophomore dorm at the University of Iowa. Sanger was investigating gambling by people under the legal age of 21.

The software used showed Sanger that people were operating betting apps on their phones inside the dorm, however Sanger could not tell whether users were actually placing bets. When he asked his superiors if he could continue with the investigation, he was denied. 

Despite being denied a continuation of his investigation, Sanger then used the software to check whether people opened the betting apps inside a University of Iowa athletic facility.

Related: No Evidence of Match Fixing in Iowa Gambling Scandal 

“This was done without a warrant, tips, complaints or evidence that illegal activity was occurring,” Plumb wrote Monday in a filing on behalf of Isaiah Lee, a former Iowa State defensive lineman, according to the Des Moines Register. 

Sanger later appealed to his bosses again, and this time they agreed to allow him to continue the investigation. 

Sanger and other DCI agents then expanded their probe to other buildings “without reasonable cause,” Plumb wrote. The agents ultimately probed Iowa State University athletic buildings as well.

Plumb has repeatedly asked for more information about why the DCI launched the controversial criminal probe and how it tracked betting. He also pushed back against the filing of serious charges against some players, including identity theft, a felony, for using other people's online betting accounts to make wagers.

Specifically, Plumb wants to know why student-athletes in Iowa were targeted when more than 30 states now allow sports betting for those 21 and older. 

In November, Iowa State University head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser questioned the source of the Iowa DCI investigation.

"To me, the bigger question is who in Des Moines decided to get this thing going and why," Dresser said. "We've never really heard those answers. Why are Iowa and Iowa State athletes the only ones in this? It just seems to be very confusing to me as to why this even happened."