[QUOTE] My understanding is that the communications intercepted by the FBI include records of them talking to each other about how much money they were making on the back of illegal downloads and of them making arrangements to operate the business. In other words that they admit in their own communication with each other to criminal conspiracy. It is enough to prove criminal intent to get a conviction on criminal conspiracy charges. Cops love conspiracy charges and bring them whenever they can. I think that it sucks, Dotcom and his friends are hardly gangsters and civil prosecution would be quite enough.[/QUOTE] I agree. But what concerns me the most is that allowing this kind of OTT grandstanding by the police might set a precedent that will lead to more of the same. I know that heavy-handed, quasi-military operations like the Dotcom swoop are part of the American culture, but do we want this kind of storm trooper mentality here? I know I don't.