Sex Trafficking Convictions OK Despite Illegal Electronic Search

A defendant’s sex trafficking convictions were upheld even though the Fourth Circuit said Nov. 21 that Homeland Security’s warrantless search of his electronic devices violated the Fourth Amendment.

The appeals court rejected the government’s argument that the search fell under an exception for border searches, but said the evidence was allowed because of Homeland Security’s good faith reliance on precedent allowing it to conduct the search.

Homeland Security Investigations had evidence that Raymond Aigbekaen was sex trafficking a 16-year-old girl in New York, Maryland, and Virginia. Although Aigbekaen was out of the country when the evidence was developed, the Homeland ...