With increasing amounts of intelligence in the hands of increasing numbers of law enforcement agents, what"s the chance something will leak?
What"s the going rate for law enforcement data? In Las Vegas, a former FBI agent turned private investigator admitted to purchasing hundreds of computer records from a corrupt FBI employee and a municipal court worker for $100 a pop, then reselling them to clients at a markup. In Los Angeles, a former DEA agent is charged with selling hundreds of confidential records to another private eye for $60 to $80 a piece.
Corrupt cops have a variety of databases at their disposal:
NCIC: Maintained by the FBI, the National Crime Information Center houses nationwide records on arrest histories, convictions, and warrants, as well as suspected gang members, terrorists, and juvenile delinquents.
NLETS: Based in Arizona, the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System is funded by state governments. It gives users access to motor vehicle departments in all 50 states, yielding vehicle registration information and driver"s license data.
NADDIS: The Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Information System is a DEA database described by the Justice Department website as housing information on over 3,500,000 individuals, businesses, vessels, and selected airfields.
CLETS: The California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System is a state network that gives users access to California motor vehicle records, rap sheets, and fingerprints.