Thread: Judge orders Western Union to turn over data

http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/ ... st=b_ln_hl

Judge orders Western Union to turn over data
The Business Journal of Phoenix - 9:18 AM MST Tuesday
by Mike Sunnucks The Business Journal

A state judge is ordering Western Union to fork over data related to wire transactions that provide leads in drug trafficking and human smuggling investigations.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge James Keppel issued the order at the request of state Attorney General Terry Goddard.

Goddard said Monday he sought the order after Western Union refused to comply with a subpoena seeking transaction data.

State law enforcement agencies and the Phoenix Police Department want that information to supplement investigations into illegal immigrant smuggling rings and drug cartel activities in the state. They say wire transfers could help track down criminal syndicates operating in Arizona through money sent to Mexico and other foreign markets.

Arizona is a prime crossing point into the U.S. from Mexico for drug cartels, crystal meth producers, illegal immigrants and human smugglers.

The court order comes on the heels of Western Union's agreement to pay state fines for alleged lax record keeping related to wire transfers.

Western Union is subsidiary of Colorado-based First Data Corp. (NYSE:FDC). The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Yes!!!!!!!!!!

Dixie

Thank goodness!!! Now let's hope the ACLU doesn't somehow find a way to in get on this one too.

I hope their stocks "tank".

Dixie wrote:

Yes!!!!!!!!!!

Ditto!!!!