Opinion ID: 505922
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The scope of the warrant exceeded the probable cause.

Text: 52 The final factor leading us to conclude that the Kleinberg warrant was impermissibly overbroad is that even if we assume that Agent Juhasz' affidavit established probable cause to issue a search warrant, the scope of the warrant far exceeded the probable cause to support it. The fourth amendment requires not only that the warrant sufficiently specify the evidence to be seized, but also that the scope of the warrant be limited to the specific areas and things for which there is probable cause to search. Maryland v. Garrison, 480 U.S. 79, 107 S.Ct. 1013, 1017, 94 L.Ed.2d 72 (1987). An otherwise unobjectionable description of the objects to be seized is defective if it is broader than can be justified by the probable cause upon which the warrant is based. 2 LaFave, Sec. 4.6(a), at 236; see United States v. Bentley, 825 F.2d 1104, 1110 (7th Cir.) (When the probable cause covers fewer documents in a system of files, the warrant must ... tell the officers how to separate the documents to be seized from others.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 108 S.Ct. 240, 98 L.Ed.2d 198 (1987); Rickert v. Sweeney, 813 F.2d 907, 909 (8th Cir.1987) (Although probable cause existed to search the records of one particular project, the warrant failed to so limit the search.); Spilotro, 800 F.2d at 967 (list of criminal statutes in warrant went beyond probable cause in affidavit); Voss, 774 F.2d at 408 (Logan, J., concurring) (The breadth of a warrant must be justified by the breadth of the probable cause.); cf. VonderAhe v. Howland, 508 F.2d 364, 369 (9th Cir.1974) ([A]lthough there may have been 'probable cause' to search for and seize [records of a certain type and date] there was no probable cause shown for a seizure of all the ... books and records, or ... personal and private papers.) In other words, a search warrant is also impermissibly overbroad if it authorizes the search and seizure of evidence that is not supported by probable cause. A generous reading of the affidavit may disclose probable cause for a search of the Kleinberg offices limited to documentary evidence of transactions related to the Micro-tel receiver or to shipments to Hong Kong, but in no event is there probable cause to support a general search for evidence of violations of the export laws. The government asserts that the affidavit describ[ed] a systematic scheme for committing a specific narrow export offense. Reply Brief of Appellant at 15. That is not accurate; the affidavit includes only a general reference to the export of electronic equipment to the People's Republic of China through Hong Kong, and references no Kleinberg transactions apart from the export of the Micro-tel receiver. 53 In summary, we find the Kleinberg warrant overbroad in every respect. 23 The warrant contains no limitation on the scope of the search, it is not as particular as the circumstances would allow or require and it extends far beyond the scope of the supporting affidavit. The warrant is invalid and we must determine if the evidence seized should be suppressed.