More than two dozen University of Iowa, Iowa State University and Ellsworth Community College athletes have filed a lawsuit, alleging they were charged with crimes after investigators engaged in an "unconstitutional" use of gambling tracking software.
All of the athletes were charged with underage gambling and identity theft as part of 2023 criminal investigation. Most of the athletes pleaded guilty to the charges and paud a fine in return for having the identity theft charge dismissed.
All of the players were suspended by the NCAA.
According to Brobible.com, four of the athletes, including Iowa State football players Isaiah Lee, Jirehl Brock and Enyi Uwazurike and wrestler Paniro Johnson, were not among the group that pleaded guilty.
Related: Prosecutors Drop Charges Against Former Iowa State Athletes in Gambling Case
In March, assistant Story County attorney Benjamin Matchan filed motions to dismiss charges against Brock and three other former Iowa State athletes: wrestler Paniro Johnson, defensive lineman Isaiah Lee and defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike. Matchan cited an email presented by defense attorneys this week that showed the manufacturer of a bet-tracking software had pulled the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation's access to the service.
"Even though defense attorneys pried loose evidence in recent weeks that raised questions about the legality of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s gambling probe into student athletes, Brock still worried a jury would convict him," Tyler Jett of the Register reported at the time.
In addition to the tracking software, investigators also interviewed the athletes without telling them they were under investigation. As such, they were not read their Miranda Rights.
Iowa’s Department of Public Safety commissioner Stephan Bayens, DCI director Paul Feddersen, DCI assistant director David Jobes, DCI special agent for sports wagering Troy Nelson and special agent Brian Sanger are all named in the lawsuit.
“The lives of these young men have been disrupted and altered in way still yet to be fully seen,” the athletes’ attorneys said in a statement. “Many of them have had their athletic careers ended, due to the State of Iowa’s unconstitutional use of GeoComply’s Kibana software. It is our hope that through the civil action we can help these young men put their lives back on track and gain a measure of justice for the violation of their rights.”
