Hidden cameras, rifled trash aided probe of basketball game-fixing

 Federal agents used hidden cameras, GPS tracking devices, trash searches and a confidential informant who on one occasion gave "false information" to make their case in the University of San Diego basketball bribery investigation, according to legal documents.

"Operation Hookshot” alleged 10 people were involved in a scheme to fix college basketball games with money gained through marijuana sales.

Two former University of San Diego players, Brandon Johnson and Brandon Lamar Dowdy, were charged along with former coach T.J. Brown. Johnson is the school's all-time leading scorer.

Details of the FBI work have been largely suppressed by a gag order imposed by the U.S. federal judge handling the case. The government provided details of four FBI affidavits as a March 12 response to several motions filed by defense attorneys.

The U.S. attorney's office reports 36,000 phone calls and text messages were intercepted, 30 hours of recordings were made and one confidential informant provided large amounts of information.

In a 2010 affidavit, an FBI agent described "actual and considered surveillance" of some defendants in Las Vegas, at their homes and their jobs.

Agents used "pole cameras" outside some homes, but with little success.They also searched through the trash of several defendants. The FBI also claimed the suspects were using "counterintelligence" techniques.

 Agents appeared to focus on Brown. According to the government's response, the FBI "did surveillance on Brown at La Jolla High School and Stingaree," a nightclub in the city’s Gaslamp District.

-- Fox 5