United States v. Spy Factory,Inc. (1997)

United States v. Spy Factory, 951 F. Supp. 450 (S.D. N.Y. 1997), was a criminal case in which the owner of a chain of stores selling spy and surveillance equipment was arrested. The owner was accused of violating a law limiting to whom a [Page 1090]person could sell this type of equipment. During the trial in the district court, the shop owner appealed the indictment on the grounds that the law was vague, arguing that it was unclear which actions were prohibited by the law. The court held that the law by which he was convicted was not unconstitutionally vague and therefore was enforceable. This case did not reach the U.S. Supreme Court. As a result of this decision, the law would remain a tool ...