This is wrong on so many levels. As one who worked in the system and was involved in many seizures, if the information as presented is true and the warrant didn’t cover the actual boxes, there is no reason for the FBI or anyone to open the box.
The way it should have worked was the box was removed from the frame, sealed without opening, and the owner of record’s information recorded on the box. Then the box itself would have been entered as inventory on the search warrant return.
This is a blatant abuse of the FBI’s power utilizing the search warrant as an excuse to gain access to the contents of the safety deposit boxes.
The Judge, who issued the warrant, should have the affirming agent in his court room post haste and answer under what legal grounds did the agents need to open the boxes? Simply doing an “inventory” doesn’t give them the right to violate someone’s Fourth Amendment.
It’s this kind of BS that gives those who play it straight a bad rap.
This is going to make some great Treasury Auctions some time soon.
You make a lot of sense, too much for today’s government and courts.