Advice: A Call From Customs Today - MESO-Rx

Taoseeker · #1 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 07:36 PM

Got a call today from a special agent today - Customs and Immigration.
He said he wanted to come out to my house and talk to me about 30 minutes about a "matter." He will bring an associate.

He said another case was under investigation (he implied that it was in another office) and that "my name came up." He said that he could not tell me the particulars over the phone (it is against policy).

I am posting this to see if anyone has any similar experience and/or any insights into what this means. I am going to have my attorney present and have told them as much; mostly because of the secretive nature of the appointment.

I have not ordered any gear for over 1 1/2 years. I did have one seizure and a letter from customs about 2 1/2 years ago. My house is clean and so is my blood. I am wondering if they are investigating a source and saw my name on a list. I have friends that have ordered from a respected source on this board, but they used domestic delivery.

I am trying to put this together to make some sense. After digesting this message, perhaps some of you have some observations.

Am I at risk, and in what way? Since they won't find any gear and don't see me receive any can I be charged with anything? Can they make me divulge the names of anyone I know doing gear? Lying to a Federal Officer is a punishable offense, ask Martha Stewart.

Thoughts? Reflections? Wisdom?

MaxRep · #2 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 08:36 PM

The best thing to do is not let them in your house without a warrant and if they have one or not, don't say a word to them about anything other than introducing them to your attorney. If they try to buddy up to you or ask you about someone else, don't say anything, don't confirm or deny anything, make them talk to your attorney. Also, make sure your attorney is a crimminal defense attorney... don't use a friend who's an attorney but a divorce attorney or whatever and think that will work.

Good luck,
MaxRep

bear747474 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaxRep

The best thing to do is not let them in your house without a warrant and if they have one or not, don't say a word to them about anything other than introducing them to your attorney. If they try to buddy up to you or ask you about someone else, don't say anything, don't confirm or deny anything, make them talk to your attorney. Also, make sure your attorney is a crimminal defense attorney... don't use a friend who's an attorney but a divorce attorney or whatever and think that will work.

Good luck,
MaxRep

Agreed!! You have nothing to worry about. Take that advice bro. I bet that there probably investigating a source and since you have had a seizure in the past it's not far off to say that may be the source they are investigating and looking for info. Don't say shit though at the risk of incriminating yourself though!! You got a lawyer on this, great move. Let him handle it.

Good luck!

Taoseeker · #4 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 10:29 PM

Thanks to both of you for your advice. I had not thought about positioning the lawyer to answer all the questions or deflect them if they are not appropriate. I think I am going to ask them to meet in the lawyers office instead of my home. I feel suspicious of that request anyway.

They are probably investigating someone who has my name on their list. More than one source has it, but I did a lot of research without ordering. Lots of flolks can have your name in today's cybervillage.

Thanks again for your help.

If anyone else has any addtional thoughts please add them to the thread.

gman67 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 11:46 PM

Not much one can add,,they've pretty much given the best advice,,good luck.

Shukdawg · #6 (**permalink**) 10-06-2004, 11:50 PM

If you can keep us informed please. I for one would like to know how this turns out.

Good Luck!!

cirikili · #7 (**permalink**) 10-07-2004, 12:10 AM

You can pretty much guarantee that they will not tell you shit about what ever case they are investigating,they will just try and ask you specific questions to get the appropiate information they are looking for.
What country was you seizure from just out of curiousity ?

Bob Smith · #8 (**permalink**) 10-07-2004, 12:46 AM

PM Karch and/or Mark Kerr, as they are our resident legal experts. Overall MaxRep hit the major points, the other two guys can help with some of the details.

Hypertrophiac · #9 (**permalink**) 10-07-2004, 04:34 AM

Lying to a federal officer is against the law, but you also have the right to be silent and not incriminate yourself.

Make sure a criminal attorney is present, but if you havent done anything wrong they can't do anything to you. so if you dont have the money for an attorney, you'll probably do okay. just deny that you know anything...play dumb.

dont mention message boards!!! deny everything!!!

tell them you'd like to meet in a neutral location because you have small children at home.

Taoseeker · #10 (**permalink**) 10-07-2004, 08:52 AM

In answer to a previous question, my seizure was in NY and it had been shipped from England.

I think the consensus advice is very consistent and I'm going to use it; don't say anything, let the lawyer do the talking. Do not admit to anything.

I will be destroying my hard drive tomorrow and installing a new one. I will not access this board again until this is over. It will probably be in about a week or so. I will then give everyone some feedback on what happened.

Thanks again for the advice and support.

carved22 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-07-2004, 10:10 AM

If they are coming to talk to you and the circumstances are as you described, it is clear they are looking for information to use against someone else. I can tell you that during an investigation, sometimes the investigators will dig deep to try and obtain useful information.

The fact that they called you first shows me that they are going to try and buddie up and that they want to "be your friend" so that you trust them. If they wanted to break your balls they would have just showed up at your house or work and tried to talk to you before you had the chance to obtain a lawyer.

Based on what you say, I would say that you are not the target of the investigation.

Maxrep summed it up along with the others

Taoseeker · #12 (**permalink**) 10-07-2004, 04:58 PM

Bigkarch,

That is an interesting comment. When a Federal Agency calls up and says we would like to meet, can you just say no? If I do, what implications does that have for them, and what can they do?

If the consensus opinion is correct, that I am not the focus of the investigation, just another source of information - then what are they going to do next if me and my lawyer just say we respectfull decline the invitation to meet?

Would this typically prompt them to play hardball or would they just move on because I'm not worth the trouble? I am particularly interested in this last set of questions.

bear747474 · #13 (**permalink**) 10-07-2004, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taoseeker

Bigkarch,

That is an interesting comment. When a Federal Agency calls up and says we would like to meet, can you just say no? If I do, what implications does that have for them, and what can they do?

If the consensus opinion is correct, that I am not the focus of the investigation, just another source of information - then what are they going to do next if me and my lawyer just say we respectfull decline the invitation to meet?

Would this typically prompt them to play hardball or would they just move on because I'm not worth the trouble? I am particularly interested in this last set of questions.

Either way you'll do fine. I think what bigk is saying is that you don't HAVE to do anything since you are at no risk either way and your not their focus anyway except to try to get you to help them. I would take advice from a lawyer on that one as far as meeting with them or not. I doubt they would pursue after that and hardball is out of the question cause they would have nothing to play with.
Imo you are absolutely fine bro and have nothing to worry about unless of course you start volunteering info and happen to incriminate yourself, but you know better than that and I'm sure your lawyer does too.

Good luck and let us know.

thick · #14 (**permalink**) 10-07-2004, 07:44 PM

sounds like you are fine. If it were me personally i wouldnt even pay for a lawyer yet. If they show up and ask something u arent comfortable with dont talk to them. Than you can still get a lawyer. Now if you already have a lawyer etc than of course have him involved. It just seems like there is no risk to you if what u have stated is true

streetracer · #15 (**permalink**) 10-08-2004, 01:21 AM

I would respectfully decline ALL communication with them (or anyone). I don’t think you need to shell out cash for a lawyer at this point. Just let them know you see no need to discuss this any further and hang up.

I speak from experience when I say authority figures can be quite deceitful and manipulative when they want something.

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