Everything we know about Iowa and Iowa State students suing the state over its 'unconstitutional' sports betting probe
In the latest twist of the never-ending sports betting saga at Iowa State and the University of Iowa, the athletes who were busted for illegally gambling on sports are now suing the state for conducting what they believe was an unconstitutional investigation.
Nearly a year after news broke of the potential violations last May, it seemed this whole thing had come to an end in March when a prosecutor filed a motion to dismiss charges against the remaining athletes still in trial. But the basis for that dismissal has opened up a new can of worms, so here’s everything we know about where things stand now.
A group of 26 former student-athletes charged in the probe are suing the state
Twenty-five former athletes from the University of Iowa and Iowa State and one community college athlete filed a suit Friday against the state of Iowa, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa Department of Public Safety, as well as several state law enforcement leaders.
They allege the state illegally inspected their cellphone use
The athletes had been charged with either underage gambling or identity theft after evidence showed they used accounts registered to friends or family. However, that evidence was obtained through a software called Kibana which investigators used to pinpoint betting at university facilities and obtain information about who the sportsbook accounts were registered to and their betting activity.
The athletes are now saying investigators violated their constitutional rights by failing to obtain warrants to use that software, going against the Fourth and 14th amendments. They also claim investigators misled them, telling the athletes they weren’t the subject of an investigation before later charging them.
Related: Iowa State wrestling coach calls gambling probe a witch hunt
This is why some athletes had charges dropped in March
Last month, charges were dismissed against five athletes charged in the gambling probe after DCI investigators were initially accused of these very things — obtaining information from bet-tracking software without a warrant to do so and lying about the nature of their investigation. These recent charges against the state seem to be a result of that successful defense.
Several athletes have already been convicted
Some of the athletes now suing the state have already been indicted and convicted, with 19 of the 26 having pleaded guilty to underage gambling. The now plaintiffs include former Iowa State QB Hunter Dekkers, Iowa DL Noah Shannon and Iowa State DE Eyioma Uwazurike, a 2022 fourth-round pick of the Denver Broncos.
“Due to DCI’s actions and/or failures to legally investigate the plaintiffs, the plaintiffs were all indicted and some were convicted, severely upending their lives, collegiate careers and future opportunities,” wrote lawyers Matt Boles and Van Plumb in the filing.