The state of Iowa is facing allegations of misusing tracking software that led to several athletes being caught in a betting sting in 2023. The controversy has resulted in a civil lawsuit being filed by 37 individuals, including athletes from both Iowa and Iowa State, as well as a basketball equipment manager. The lawsuit accuses the state and its public safety and criminal investigation agencies of violating constitutional rights and damaging the athletes’ reputations.
The case stems from a 2023 operation where most athletes involved agreed to plead guilty to underage gambling in exchange for dropping identity theft charges. However, some athletes, including football players Jirehl Brock, Isaiah Lee, and Enyi Uwazurike, and wrestler Paniro Johnson, refused the plea bargain. Ultimately, all charges against them were dismissed in March 2024 after it was discovered that the Division of Criminal Investigation had misused tracking software called Kibana, which is designed to detect mobile sports betting apps.
The lawsuit alleges that investigators were not properly trained in the use of the software, leading to violations of the athletes’ fourth and 14th amendment rights, which protect against unreasonable searches and seizures, and ensure equal protection under the law. The athletes claim to have suffered pain, mental anguish, humiliation, and reputational damage as a result of the incident.
Athletes are prohibited from placing bets on NCAA-sponsored sports, and many of those involved in the sting operation were found to be using false names on their accounts, leading to additional charges of identity theft. The attorneys representing the athletes, Van Plumb and Matthew Boles, stated that the lives of these young men have been disrupted and altered, with some having their athletic careers prematurely ended due to the state’s use of the tracking software.
The additional support from ten more athletes and the basketball equipment manager in the civil lawsuit is seen as a positive development by the attorneys, who believe that there is strength in numbers. They hope that through the civil action, the athletes can regain control of their lives and seek justice for the violation of their rights. The lawsuit aims to hold the state of Iowa accountable for its actions and provide restitution for the harm caused to the athletes involved.