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

[ProMixNSunshine]

New name, ready to start a new game, new spot veggin' in mountains, still not legalfuck 'em, & beat 'em, cuz' I don't need 'em.

Anyways, this really isn't about any of that, DON'T POST PICS W/SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, DON'T HAVE WEAPONS INVOLVED WITH THE GROW. WTF People.

 

[Jhhnn]

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.

I think you're right in a sense, but off base in believing it matters.

LEO's can't use the wall texture to find you, because they can't compare your pics to available information. It's not information they can get. Zillow doesn't do macros of wall texture. If they bust you via some other avenue, they won't bother with the wall texture, because they'll already have you by the short hairs.

Diaz got busted in the usual way- his associate in Florida fingered him, either by design or by accident. While that alone wasn't enough for the DEA to come down on Diaz, it put him in the rangefinder. From there, they started gathering information about his comings & goings, postings, whatever they could find. They easily associated him with the residence. They found the gun toting machismo pic of him holding multiple weapons. They determined that the pic was taken in the custom residence using Zillow, and the date of the pic from the pic itself. His visa status does not allow him to possess firearms in the US. Bingo. Hammer time.

Given their experience with Colombian & Mexican cartels over the last few decades, The Feds instantly pop wood over anybody who fits the profile, move them right to the top of the "to do" list. Never underestimate their resources, diligence or persistence.

Just the way it is.

 

[wildgrow]

Yes. Of course it would be pretty far-fetched that they would do that. Esp. when a pic of the wall in question could easily be matched up digitally to the posted pic.

Like you and others have said, if theyre already in your house and have a pic of you breaking the law, youre screwed.

 

[Bababooey]

Pay attention to the story: the feds came into possession of an email containing pics of the suspect. Was it from a CI or from the NSA (email snooping?).
But the feds took an interest because he was holding guns, and that's what the search warrant was for, weapons violations. He was a Columbian immigrant too, and maybe thats why he got on their radar, maybe he's got cartel ties. A suspected cartel member with guns is a big enough fish for them to catch, even though no drugs were found (on him at least). Maybe he supplies weapons to them, or launders their money.
Unless you've got cartel ties, I think your 5-10k basement grow is safe. It might be flattering to think that the DEA is going after every med grower, but realistically unless you've got a dispensary(ies) or warehouse grow(s), you're small fry. Especially with the fed govt sequester (spending cuts) they are going to focus on larger organizations, and they obviously cant even get all of them, you think they're going to raid your basement grow when they've got violent drug gangs killing people and moving millions of dollars throughout the country?
C'mon man...
Note: this opinion is only in regards to fed activity in med states; in nonmed states any local cop would love to take an interest in your grow, especially if it comes with assets they can seize...

 

[Fly by Night]

New name, ready to start a new game,

 

[Jhhnn]

Pay attention to the story: the feds came into possession of an email containing pics of the suspect. Was it from a CI or from the NSA (email snooping?).
But the feds took an interest because he was holding guns, and that's what the search warrant was for, weapons violations. He was a Columbian immigrant too, and maybe thats why he got on their radar, maybe he's got cartel ties. A suspected cartel member with guns is a big enough fish for them to catch, even though no drugs were found (on him at least). Maybe he supplies weapons to them, or launders their money.
Unless you've got cartel ties, I think your 5-10k basement grow is safe. It might be flattering to think that the DEA is going after every med grower, but realistically unless you've got a dispensary(ies) or warehouse grow(s), you're small fry. Especially with the fed govt sequester (spending cuts) they are going to focus on larger organizations, and they obviously cant even get all of them, you think they're going to raid your basement grow when they've got violent drug gangs killing people and moving millions of dollars throughout the country?
C'mon man...
Note: this opinion is only in regards to fed activity in med states; in nonmed states any local cop would love to take an interest in your grow, especially if it comes with assets they can seize...

The email was apparently from somebody they raided 18 months ago, a Florida jewel thief & general outlaw impressario-

http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2013/11/marijuana_dea_pot_raids_colorado_tony_montana.php

He got 10 years instead of 30 because he cooperated, so, uhh, there it is, the usual rollover.

I think that LEO's are looking to put the hammer down on anybody they can identify as illegal traffickers, particularly interstate traffickers. I'm quite sure that Colorado LEO's have been tasked with that, seeing as how that's the one thing that could screw up the State's new cash cow, marijuana taxes. It would be a mistake for anybody moving any weight at all to think that they're too small to bother with. If they get a line on you, they'll try to reel you in, bet on it.

None of that applies to home growers who stay on the legal side of Colorado rules, I hope.

 

[calientecarlos]

Bottom-feeders always burn themselves it's hilarious!

 

[mojave green]

The government also contended that consuming one's locally grown marijuana for medical purposes affects the interstate market of marijuana, and hence that the federal government may regulate—and prohibit—such consumption. This argument stems from the landmark New Deal case Wickard v. Filburn, which held that the government may regulate personal cultivation and consumption of crops, due to the aggregate effect of individual consumption on the government's legitimate statutory framework governing the interstate wheat market.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzales_v._Raich

 

[Jhhnn]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzales_v._Raich

Yep, our authoritarian SCOTUS bent over backwards in the Gonzales ruling, no doubt. They wrongfully claimed that the regulation in Filburn supports prohibition, when that was never the intent. Filburn was still free to grow & sell wheat, but only in regulated amounts, obviously greater than zero.

Regardless of Gonzales, the Feds apparently recognize that enforcement w/o state & local help is pissing into the wind. There have apparently been no federal busts of bona fide legal colorado growers since the passage of A64, certainly not personal growers within state legal plant counts. Nor likely will there ever be.

This is Holder's 2009 statement on the subject, from your wiki link-

It will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana, but we will not tolerate drug traffickers who hide behind claims of compliance with state law to mask activities that are clearly illegal.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzales_v._Raich#cite_note-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzales_v._Raich#cite_note-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonzales_v._Raich#cite_note-16

"It will not be a priority" means don't even let us think that you're fucking with us.

That's basically been expanded to cover recreational pot as well, in Washington, Colorado & any other State making the move.

Untold thousands of medical & personal growers in Colorado basically have very little to fear at this point, provided they remain straight up Colorado legal, and that they scrupulously avoid any associations that might lead the Feds to think or act differently. I add the last bit because there were apparently some Colorado legal med growers who lost their crops in recent raids, simply because they rented space in the same warehouse as outlaw growers.

Watching your back is a concept that continuously takes on new meaning, sad to say.

 

[supermanlives]

still saying fuck you to them watching an searchin.kiss my ass.DAVESNOTHERE

 

[papaduc]

The o.p is directed at me, because a couple of weeks ago I asked eclipsefour20 to post pictures to back up some claims he made.

If the intention of this thread is to give a real heads up, then remind people about using phones to take pictures... and to make absolutely 100% sure that if you're using them to take shots, make sure all location information is shut down on them.

The photographic evidence in that case was used to prove the fella had Fierarms in his possession. It relates in no way or form to posting pictures of a faceless plant and making the suggestion that it does is scaremongering.

Don't put your joint on your passport then photograph the beautiful white ash...

Don't sit your plants on personal documents with your name and address on... then make a video of them and post it on youtube... like someone actually did recently.

You've got to base the level of your caution on the legitimacy of the threat, otherwise, we should all don the foil hat now...

If the day comes - and I don't wish this on anyone, no matter what stupid argument we have on the internet - when the cops are already in your home.. What difference a photo on the internet?

Fitting a carbon filter is more of a security measure than refusing to post a picture.

Logic. Perspective.

 

[RetroGrow]

Metadata should be removed from all photos. This can be accomplished with a free program called "Stripper".
http://lifehacker.com/5149327/jpeg--png-stripper-removes-the-metadata-from-your-images

Download here:
http://www.steelbytes.com/?mid=30

 

[papaduc]

Is there a thread on here that explains how to view the data within stored picture files, or how to adjust and check GPS settings on your camera/phone?

 

[RetroGrow]

Is there a thread on here that explains how to view the data within stored picture files, or how to adjust and check GPS settings on your camera/phone?

You can see some of the data just by hovering your mouse over the picture. It will tell you the date & time, but not sure about the other stuff, like GPS. You can get the information on your camera's manual if you have it, or just download it. Some metadata even includes the serial # of the camera, which could be traced directly back to owner.

 

[TheCleanGame]

Jstrip also works well. Strips entire directories.

Keep it Clean!