Opinion ID: 806129
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Overly Broad Subpoena

Text: We have quashed a “John Doe” administrative subpoena as overly broad where the governing statute did not authorize the agency’s use of group subpoenas. See Peters, 853 F.2d at 700. A “John Doe” subpoena is one “where the [agency’s] investigation and request for information concerns individuals whose identity is currently unknown to the [agency].” Id. at 8920 UNITED STATES v. GOLDEN VALLEY ELECTRIC 695 n.3. In Peters, the Immigration and Naturalization Service had served a “John Doe” subpoena on the manager of a labor camp with 150 resident families, seeking records related to any unnamed “undocumented aliens” living there. Id. at 694. We quashed the subpoena, holding that the Immigration and Naturalization Act does not authorize the agency to serve “John Doe” subpoenas. Id. at 699-700. [10] Golden Valley argues under Peters that the subpoena in this case seeking records for the residences of three customers is an impermissible “group subpoena.” We disagree. Unlike the broad and indefinite subpoena in Peters, the subpoena in this case is narrow and specific. A DEA agent stated in a declaration in the district court, “I suspect that individuals at these residences may be involved in the manufacture and distribution of controlled substances.” The subpoena requests information related to customer information at only these specified residences.