Another ISP Challenge . . . The FBI

What does an ISP and the FBI have in common?  How about a raid on April 2, 2009 in Dallas, Texas.  Recently a raid on Core IP Networks took place early on Thursday morning.  Apparently from a thread on webhostingtalk and a pcworld article, they were either targeting the founder of the company or a customer that apparently doesn’t even co-locate with Core IP!

Shaggy:  This sounds like another mystery for Scooby Doo!
Scooby:  Scooby dooby doo!
Shaggy:  Uh oh, scooby it looks like those FBI agents are placing scooby snacks all over the city to confuse you from finding the true culprit of this so called raid!

I couldn’t help but put a humorous twist on this situation since the FBI is not voluntarily releasing any information.  I also find it funny how such an investigation was taking place without any sort of contact to the owner prior to the raid!  What’s even more puzzling is if they are going after the owner, why was there no  surveillance being conducted to hone in on the owner’s location?  He wasn’t home nor was he at the datacenter, this will make you laugh!  The owner was actually out of town in Phoenix, Arizona!  Talk about some sophisticated intelligence gathering!  So lets see the FBI gets the datacenter, decides to take the entire network down and continues to leave it down as I type this blog posting.  Here is some information gathering I have done myself which has come straight from the horse’s mouth:

April 4, 2009

Matthew Simpson
Core IP Networks LLC

Dear Customers,

Today at 6:00am, the FBI conducted an unwarranted early morning raid of our 2323 Bryan Street     Datacenters, on the 7th and 24th floors.

I received a phone call at 6:05am from our NOC that the entire network was powered off. I called Capstar Commercial and TELX, our landlord, and was told that the FBI was in the datacenter with a search and seizure warrant. I asked that the agent in charge call me immediately.

I received a call 15 minutes later from FBI Agent Allyn Lynd. Mr. Lynd would not tell me why he raided our datacenter or what he was looking for. He also accused me of hiding inside my house in Ovilla, Texas. I was actually in Phoenix, Arizona when this happened. I told him that, and he told me that he was “getting the dogs” after me, and hung up on me. I found out from an employee that there were 15 police cars and a SWAT team at my home in Ovilla.

The FBI has seized all equipment belonging to our customers. Many customers went to the data center to try and retrieve their equipment, but were threatened with arrest.

Neither I, nor Core IP are involved in any illegal activities of any kind. The only data that I have received thus far is that the FBI is investigating a company that has purchased services from Core IP in the past. This company does not even colocate with us anywhere, much less 2323 Bryan Street Datacenter.

Currently nearly 50 businesses are completely without access to their email and data. Citizen access to Emergency 911 services are being affected, as Core IP’s primary client base consists of telephone companies.

If you run a datacenter, please be aware that in our great country, the FBI can come into your place of business at any time and take whatever they want, with no reason.

I can be reached for further comment at: mnsclec@gmail.com
Further information will be given as it becomes available.

Yours,
Matthew Simpson
CEO, Core IP Networks, LLC

Now I will play the devil’s advocate here.  If you were the CEO of such a company is it wise to publicly showcase your feelings about a certain occurrence without the proper representation of a lawyer?  Further more you are going to criticize such an entity known to have such immense power to do whatever they want to do, with the exception of walking on water!  My advice to Matthew Simpson is to play this event a little more secretively because simply showing you distaste for the FBI will eventually destroy your case when you are due one in the rightful eyes of the law.  In other words, shut your trap Matt and play it safe.  The members of webhostingtalk and readers around the world are watching you.  To put it further, we are on your side bud as no one likes to see such an occurrence happen, especially during these times.  From what I have read, you seem to have established a successful operation and I would hate to see anything happen which will further incriminate you from what you have already stated in your defense.  Best thing to say is nothing at all, I am sure you’re company will be impacted severely by such an occurrence and if you are innocent I surely hope that you will be fully compensated for any losses and damages that have taken place.

Best Regards,

Jason Thompson