Beware of the "background" in your photos...LEO will use it against you

[EclipseFour20]

During this past week I was asked to post pictures of my plants and I declined on advice of my attorney. That digital signature found on all pics was not my attorney's concern--rather it was allowing LEO to prove that a picture was taken at my home.

Why worry? Two reason: Federal Mandatory Sentencing Guidelines and my age (any prolonged sentence would be "life for me"--as I am closer to 60 than I am to 50).

Well, guess what. Five days ago in Colorado, Feds raided over a dozen marijuana operations--and the background in an "emailed photo" helped them confirm the picture was taken at a certain residence; the metadata (digital signature) also helped--but the photo background was the "clincher".

On November 21, 2013, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, in partnership with
several state and local law enforcement agencies in the District of Colorado, executed
approximately 15 federal search warrants pursuant to an ongoing investigation. One of those
warrants was executed at 52 Sedgwick Drive, Arapahoe County, Colorado. Prior to the execution
of that warrant, agents had previously come into possession of e-mail communications involving a
person identified herein as Co-conspirator #1. Your affiant viewed one specific e-mail related to
that account, dated February 14, 2013. That e-mail contained a photo of an individual subsequently
identified as Hector DIAZ. Metadata contained within the attached photograph file indicates that it
was taken on February 7, 2013. In the photo, DIAZ is shown wearing a DEA baseball cap and
holding up two authentic-looking semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines, one in each
hand. Diaz also appears to have two additional handguns stuck inside the front of his pants. The
aforementioned photo depicts DIAZ in possession of all four weapons while standing in a room
with a fireplace and furnishings. This photo was later compared to a photo found on an Internet
real estate web site called Zillow.com regarding the property at 52 Sedgwick Drive, Arapahoe
County, Colorado. The Zillow photo depicting the interior of the house at 52 Sedgwick Drive
confirmed to your affiant that the photo of DIAZ displaying the four weapons was taken inside 52
Sedgwick Drive, Arapahoe County, Colorado. The photo is affixed hereto as Attachment A.

....Based on the information identified above, your affiant submits that there is probable cause
to believe that Hector DIAZ, a/k/a Hector Diaz-Martinez, a/k/a Hector Josue Diaz-Martinez,
a/k/a Hector J. Diaz-Martinez, did illegally possess a firearm on or about February 7, 2013, in
violation of U.S.C. §§ 922 (g)(5)(B).

Source: http://www.scribd.com/doc/187057217/Hector-Diaz-Complaint-Affidavit

Something to think about, cheers!

BTW, I know Eric Holder has instructed the DOJ not follow Federal Mandatory Sentencing Guidelines for most cannabis cases, but as my attorney reminded me--there is no guarantee his successor will do the same...and pics posted on the internet do not "disappear" when the next prez is elected.

 

[TheCleanGame]

Appreciate the heads up...

And I live in Colorado! Here's my Bonsai, Hydro, Bubble Bucket Harlequin Mum!

Identify THAT white-wall, dudes!

Keep it Clean!

 

[EclipseFour20]

I hear you...but think CSI & tire treads. It is the imperfection/defect or other markings that will get you.

Not saying people should not post pics, but if your grow is of a quantity that can be "life changing"--should the worst happen, then an "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".

Cheers!

 

[VonBudí]

Identify THAT white-wall, dudes!

 

[supermanlives]

I am aware of this but its a great reminder for folks. one screwup is all it takes. peace

 

[TheCleanGame]

Oh yeah... aluminum tape, shiny metal surfaces and such...

It's sometimes possible to un-distort images and pull the image of a face or tattoo from those shiny spots in the photo. Be Wary!

Keep it Clean!

 

[Gifted0ne]

I guess a simple solution would be don't grow illegally. And even if u hint you cant post pics, they can track your internet location and not only follow you undercover but obtain a warrant just based off a post in a forum suggesting growing they dont need pics. Posting some pics of plants isn't illegal, look at all the people smoking weed on youtube and all the grow video's. Hell they can even get through your internet and remote view your computer if they want.

 

[supermanlives]

come get me I am waiting

 

[supermanlives]

I guess a simple solution would be don't grow illegally. And even if u hint you cant post pics, they can track your internet location and not only follow you undercover but obtain a warrant just based off a post in a forum suggesting growing they dont need pics. Posting some pics of plants isn't illegal, look at all the people smoking weed on youtube and all the grow video's. Hell they can even get through your internet and remote view your computer if they want.

don't grow illegally? are you on crack. grow all you want fuck em illegal my ass. and track this assholes. free da weed fuck da man.i aint changing names and I aint scared.still posting an still free an still a rampaging redneck

 

[TheCleanGame]

I never posted photos when I grew in a non-medical state.

People gave me crap for years for giving advice and not posting photos. Whatever. lol I'm just now starting to take photos and post a few online.

Nice not to have to care about security.

Keep it Clean!

 

[Jhhnn]

During this past week I was asked to post pictures of my plants and I declined on advice of my attorney. That digital signature found on all pics was not my attorney's concern--rather it was allowing LEO to prove that a picture was taken at my home.

Why worry? Two reason: Federal Mandatory Sentencing Guidelines and my age (any prolonged sentence would be "life for me"--as I am closer to 60 than I am to 50).

Well, guess what. Five days ago in Colorado, Feds raided over a dozen marijuana operations--and the background in an "emailed photo" helped them confirm the picture was taken at a certain residence; the metadata (digital signature) also helped--but the photo background was the "clincher".

On November 21, 2013, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, in partnership with
several state and local law enforcement agencies in the District of Colorado, executed
approximately 15 federal search warrants pursuant to an ongoing investigation. One of those
warrants was executed at 52 Sedgwick Drive, Arapahoe County, Colorado. Prior to the execution
of that warrant, agents had previously come into possession of e-mail communications involving a
person identified herein as Co-conspirator #1. Your affiant viewed one specific e-mail related to
that account, dated February 14, 2013. That e-mail contained a photo of an individual subsequently
identified as Hector DIAZ. Metadata contained within the attached photograph file indicates that it
was taken on February 7, 2013. In the photo, DIAZ is shown wearing a DEA baseball cap and
holding up two authentic-looking semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines, one in each
hand. Diaz also appears to have two additional handguns stuck inside the front of his pants. The
aforementioned photo depicts DIAZ in possession of all four weapons while standing in a room
with a fireplace and furnishings. This photo was later compared to a photo found on an Internet
real estate web site called Zillow.com regarding the property at 52 Sedgwick Drive, Arapahoe
County, Colorado. The Zillow photo depicting the interior of the house at 52 Sedgwick Drive
confirmed to your affiant that the photo of DIAZ displaying the four weapons was taken inside 52
Sedgwick Drive, Arapahoe County, Colorado. The photo is affixed hereto as Attachment A.

....Based on the information identified above, your affiant submits that there is probable cause
to believe that Hector DIAZ, a/k/a Hector Diaz-Martinez, a/k/a Hector Josue Diaz-Martinez,
a/k/a Hector J. Diaz-Martinez, did illegally possess a firearm on or about February 7, 2013, in
violation of U.S.C. §§ 922 (g)(5)(B).

Source: http://www.scribd.com/doc/187057217/Hector-Diaz-Complaint-Affidavit

Something to think about, cheers!

BTW, I know Eric Holder has instructed the DOJ not follow Federal Mandatory Sentencing Guidelines for most cannabis cases, but as my attorney reminded me--there is no guarantee his successor will do the same...and pics posted on the internet do not "disappear" when the next prez is elected.

The pic of Diaz is incriminating because Diaz doesn't have the right visa status to possess firearms in the US. It's also highly likely that Diaz & associates were under surveillance for some while, leading the Feds to the residence. Comparing the pic to those on Zillow was just basic detective work. It proves the illegal firearm possession occurred within the US, within the statute of limitations, so smackalacka, macho bonehead, you're going down.

That's a lot different than posted pics of, say, marijuana plants against an unidentifiable background that could have been taken anywhere & the poster lying about the whole deal.

 

[OvergrowDaWorld]

Appreciate the heads up...

And I live in Colorado! Here's my Bonsai, Hydro, Bubble Bucket Harlequin Mum!
View Image

Identify THAT white-wall, dudes!

Keep it Clean!

Its a commonly known texturing technique known as "knock-down". This technique on the walls is found mostly in the South -West. Arizona Nevada for instance. In the North-East it is usually on cielings only.
They can use a police forensic crime scene laser environment copier, and copy the exact knock-down patterns on your walls and match it perfectly to the texture in the picture you put up.
But I doubt that its worth it for them.
The way I see it...if the cops are in my house to even see what walls and background stuff from my pics....its too late anyways. LOL
And to be really honest...if I got busted and they took all my grow equipment and I was on probation....(cauze it would be a slap on the wrist for me).....Ide go outdoors into the mountains, live out there in a tent, and grow 100lbs and start over in my new house in a different, MMJ friendly state!
So let em come! Thats prob the motivation I would need to really go big! LOL! Just sayin....

 

[EclipseFour20]

...That's a lot different than posted pics of, say, marijuana plants against an unidentifiable background that could have been taken anywhere & the poster lying about the whole deal.

I guess it comes down to the old "risk vs reward" thing.

If I were young and single with half my life ahead of me--or if my garden was just a few dozen plants (let's just say--my plant count is greater than most and fewer than some), that would be one thing...but if you are 65 and sentenced 10 years to prison--that is a "life sentence" with your family homeless (court fines).

Sorry, for me the "risk" (leaving online digital evidence that will "only be used against me in a court of law") is not worth the "reward" (bragging rights on a stoner forum).

Since I don't have an ego that is easily bruised--or needs to be stroked daily...I am cool with everything.

Cheers!

 

[OvergrowDaWorld]

[URL="https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=36208&pictureid=1167397&thumb=1"]View Image[/URL] come get me I am waiting

This is exactky what I would do if I ever got oppressed by the gov. and they took my equipment!

 

[supermanlives]

I posted more pics when I was illegal back in ma. going legal took some of the fun out of it to be honest. not much but some lol. having cops come an not to be able to take my grow was priceless and evens it out prob

 

[stihgnobevoli]

I guess a simple solution would be don't grow illegally. And even if u hint you cant post pics, they can track your internet location and not only follow you undercover but obtain a warrant just based off a post in a forum suggesting growing they dont need pics. Posting some pics of plants isn't illegal, look at all the people smoking weed on youtube and all the grow video's. Hell they can even get through your internet and remote view your computer if they want.

no the real solution is to overgrow the world like i thought we were all on this site to do. fuck the police, freedom or death anything else and you may as well just start grazing now.

not that you should be careless as always nothing that can identify you, no backgrounds and posters and shit, a picture of your box and black sheet behind all your plant pics. A.) take better shots that way, B.) no dogs and streetsigns and zip codes and other shit in the background people never seem to notice while they review their pictures before posting online. you guys do review your pics before you post them to make sure nothing identifiable is in em right? i would go so far as to not even reveal my "ethnic background" this is the internet you are no one unless you want someone to know who you are. you are anyone, you are... anonymous lol.

i didn't even read the restr of your post before i replied. that last shit is some csi bullshit like that pic von budi posted last page. no one's gonna hack your computer that shit won't stand in court and if they have a warrant which i don't think allows them to hack your shit anyway, them hacking you is the least of your concerns. they have a warrant for you...run mofo. and no one is trying to track down the people on youtube smoking weed, there's like 200+ million people on youtube who the fuck is searching all those billions of videos? they kinda need evidence to get a warrant, that's the way it works. a post in a forum is nothing unless they already have some other information linking you to that post in which case the forum post is the least of your concerns. i would worry about what silly bit of info i let slip that let them associate the two.

 

[stihgnobevoli]

They can use a police forensic crime scene laser environment copier, and copy the exact knock-down patterns on your walls and match it perfectly to the texture in the picture you put up.

more made up bullshit. do you know how knockdown and orange peel and all that shit gets on the wall? i assure you it's not from a stencil. there's this machine called a texture sprayer that shoots cement out of a nozzle...RANDOMLY. there's no goddamn pattern. ITS RANDOM.

 

[wildgrow]

It is random giving it individuality. The right programs could render a 3-d printed copy of the wall's unique 'fingerprint'. Their 3-d printed wall section would fit perfectly against the wall - every nook and cranny.

 

[D0PEB0Y]

Not sure what cameras were used but if you are using an iPhone, simply remove the camera app from Location Services allowed apps under privacy settings.

 

[stihgnobevoli]

It is random giving it individuality. The right programs could render a 3-d printed copy of the wall's unique 'fingerprint'. Their 3-d printed wall section would fit perfectly against the wall - every nook and cranny.

yeah...technically...and technically you could match up a grain of sand from a specific brand of play sand that is at the park near the place you gro and they could match up the sand...but seriously...you think they're really going to do all that? the cops don't even dust for fingerprints when a burglar breaks into a high profile business office in the heart of a major city. i know i was there, lame ass cop didn't even pick up clues i found myself. i'm like uh...there's the lock under the table...maybe there's finger prints on it from where they forced it?

they don't really do that CSI shit on tv man. cops are lazy fat and lazy. least amount of work possible. shoot first...run...lol erm i mean walk and catch up and toss a burner on the dead body later.