D.N.J.: Search of phone for phone and IMEI number was reasonable

Officers knew that defendant had communicated with the alleged minor on Grindr, an app allegedly on his cell phone, and that made the cell phone subject to seizure. “Wise next alleges that law enforcement officers violated his Fourth Amendment rights when they entered his phone prior to obtaining his written and verbal consent. … Wise alleges three forms of purportedly illegal entry: (1) the Government searched Wise’s phone for the phone number, (2) the Government searched Wise’s phone for the IMEI number, and (3) the Government took a photograph of Wise’s unlocked phone. … The Court disagrees that any of these actions constituted Fourth Amendment violations.” Inevitable discovery supports the search of the phone even if it was premature. United States v. Wise, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 208623 (D.N.J. Oct. 28, 2021).

The affidavit for firearms in the hands of a convicted felon and an “auto switch” to convert a handgun to fully automatic was more than bare bones. United States v. Yates, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 208162 (S.D.Tex. Oct. 28, 2021).*