That’s the unusual plea
deal that Tadrae McKenzie struck earlier this year
in a case involving a “stingray” – a controversial device being used by law enforcement around the
country
to track individuals’ movements and phone calls.
During the
course of his trial, McKenzie’s defense attorneys sought information on how
exactly the police had tracked his location. When the judge took the unprecedented step of
requiring state prosecutors to demonstrate exactly how a stingray (also called
“cell site simulators,” “dirtboxes,” and “IMSI catchers”) worked, they offered
McKenzie a deal he couldn’t refuse to avoid disclosing information about the
device.
