Posted on 08/08/2006 10:13:27 AM PDT by Ready2go
FBI Interested in Large Prepaid Cell Phone Purchases Posted 8/3/2006 06:06 PM
Store clerks in Grafton say people have been coming into their stores and buying several phones at a time. Story by Sarah Kapis Email | Bio
Folks at the Dollar General in Grafton say in the past few days, several men have come into the store attempting to buy large numbers of prepaid phones. However, store policy only allows a customer to buy two phones at a time, in fact, they are locked away from the general public.
The clerks say after they were in the Dollar General, the men went to the Grafton Walmart to try to purchase more of the phones.
Grafton police found one man during a traffic stop. They say he had hundreds of prepaid phones in his car.
There is no word on what the men planned to do with the phones or why they bought so many, but the incident was later turned over to the FBI for an investigation.
The owner of Country Roads Communications says the allure of the prepaid phones is the freedom that come with them. However, the FBI is not ready to say that the phones are being used for illegal or criminal purposes.
"Prepaids are hard to track, so they're used alot for illegal operations," said Vince Cafazza.
"We are aware that there are a number of purchases throughout the state. Large purchases of trac phones. We are interested in the purchases because they are unusual," said Dan Caldwell, FBI special agent. "We also understand that a number of the larger stores in the area are aware of the purchases. We are not aware of any criminal activity associated with the purchases at this point."
Caldwell says if you notice someone trying to buy large quantities of these type of phones, you can contact your local police or the FBI.
A cell phone is not inherently dangerous, and the purchase of them in quantity is not illegal.
If the FBI does nothing for this legal purchase then why bother with the rest of war on terror. At some point common sense should be applied. Legal or not these hundreds of cell phones in the back of a car should raise some eyebrows and prompt further questioning I would think.
If the FBI is still in their law enforcement mode of investigating after an act of terror has taken place then we might as well throw in the towel now. If this/these men are on the up and up then so be it but question the driver at least. Maybe they have but their statement indicates a HO HUM attitude of "no crime has been committed"
To which "right" do you refer, the imagined "Right to Keep and Bear Cellphones"? Why waste time arguing in defense of something which doesn't even exist?
And the FBI is currently looking for 11 Egyptian students who failed to show up for a language seminar in Montana.
Jeez, the more I read some of the recent news the more upset I get at our lax attitude RE: immigration, illegals, visa non procedures, no check before, during or after granting visas, no apparent contact phones, addresses or persons in the U.S. who could vouch for or who have sponsored visa holders.
Is our system so broken that even during the war on terror we seem to not have any ability or will to guard borders or guard against people whose profile indicates a higher risk.
I'd say that people from any Arab country entering our country should raise some flags and cause more intense scrutiny. If 80% of the populations of Arab nations hates the U.S. then wouldn't it follow that possibly 80% of those who enter our country from those countries may be risk factors.
We're at war for crying out loud and our State dept. just plods along with business as usual.
Folks, we're going to have to get hit BIG TIME again. It appears that only then will we get serious and start acting like we're concerned.
I'm convinced that only another 9/11 will wake us up.
And so they should be outlawed?
Common sense should reflect suspicion that hundreds of cell phones in the back of a car, purchased retail, is not normal and at least further questioning and checking is in order.
It's not a matter of them being legal. It's a matter of asking why there are hundreds in the back of one's car. Don't you think that a few questions are in order here?
Hmmm... may be just that we don't buy enough stuff on a regular basis to get wholesale prices. We do mostly software so we just tend to order stuff we need out of the catalogs.
Don't you think there are a few thousand other ways to accomplish the same thing?
So, are you saying that no questions should be asked? Then why bother with trying to guard against any kind of terror activity. They'll just use another way to get us.
We might as well give up. If anything seems or looks suspicious we should do nothing without probably cause or unless a crime has been committed.
Let's just throw in the towel and forget about applying common sense to any incident where no crime has been committed. That would also rule out searches anywhere including the airports, stadiums, undergrounds etc. They'll just use another way to get us...why bother.
| Illegals From Terror-Sponsoring Nations At Large in US |
||
| Posted by Diana in Wisconsin On 08/08/2006 2:46:38 PM CDT · 14 replies · 318+ views CNSNews ^ | August 8, 2006 | Kevin Mooney (CNSNews.com) - Almost half of the illegal aliens arriving in the U.S. from terrorist-sponsoring or "special interest" nations in the past few years have been released into the American population following their apprehension. This key finding is published in an internal audit of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) obtained by Cybercast News Service . The so-called "catch and release" policies have allowed more than 45,000 illegal aliens from countries that are well known for their anti-American views or considered "hotbeds of Islamic fundamentalism" to be freed. U.S. Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas), in conversations with sheriffs operating along the Texas-Mexico... |
||
You ain't all that bright, are you?
So a citizen buying something in bulk is suspicious? LMFAO!!!
Go buy yourself a pocket copy of the constitution and bill of rights, will ya. Geez.
OK, so it doesn't reference cell phones, but maybe you'll catch a clue in there.
Lovely, you are on the "outlaw cellphones" bandwagon.
Ugh.
I think it is a national security issue mostly!
The trouble to register the phones is far less intrusive IMO than the problems that exist if they are left unregistered which consists of enabling terror, drug deals and other criminality. We are not in a pre-9/11 world anymore and we can't IMO have unregistered phones in these times.
wouldn't it follow that possibly 80% of those who enter our country from those countries may be risk factors.
a definite certainty.
Don't you think that a few questions are in order here?
I wonder who will volunteer for that job?
We might as well give up. If anything seems or looks suspicious we should do nothing without probably cause or unless a crime has been committed.
I believe for as dumb as the US senate is.....even they may probably vote and approve such an authorization.
I'm convinced that only another 9/11 will wake us up.
at this point I don't know the answer to that question
Is there a possibility that the cell phones purchased are connected to the 11-12 missing Egyptian "students?"
"Is there a possibility that the cell phones purchased are connected to the 11-12 missing Egyptian "students?"
I would say it's a pretty good possibility along with the thousands of other ME's here.
I'd be looking for mass attacks...same day...same time clean across the USA & other countries they consider to be "their enemies".
I think it might be wise to stock up on a little extra food...just in case.
Suit yourself.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.