Controversial Stop Snitching Website Identifies Informants Who Work With Police

New Web sites like whosarat.com devoted to exposing the identities of informants who cooperate with the police are making federal prosecutors furious and prompting calls to limit the public access of electronic files and databases.

(SALEM, Ore.) - One of the nation's most controversial Websites, whosarat.com, was the subject of media reports early Tuesday, but where did it go?

Whosarat.com claims that it has identified 4,300 informants and 400 undercover agents since 2004. It has many people in law enforcement calling the practice highly unethical at best. And while the site is off the Internet at this particular time, it appears that the information whosarat.com publishes is at least somewhat legal and protected.

There are multiple reports of people getting busted for drugs, informing on someone to reduce charges, and then their life is turned upside down again, when notifications are mailed to neighbors and bulletins are posted in the neighborhood warning criminals that a drug informant had moved into their neighborhood.

As odd as it may be, that problem is strangely similar to sex offenders who are identified through the actions of courts and police to neighbors. This of course has run a few sex offenders out of a neighborhood, even though in some cases, the convictions were fairly minor and many years had passed without any repeat offenses.

Still, it typically makes families nervous to learn that they are living near a sex offender. And likewise it makes drug dealers nervous to have a narc move in next door. One thing we know is that the creation of the site is not a trophy in the mirrored cabinet of the nation's continuing drug war.

The site whosarat.com, was started by Sean Bucci, after an informant provided information to prosecutors that led to his indictment on federal marijuana charges. It seems the thinking behind it was closely aligned with the new movement in the hip-hop world that encourages people not to work with police on any level, even with violent, major crimes.

The new movement to "stop snitching" is a heavily criticized cultural takeover that is impacting many people in the hip-hop world and beyond. It began in 2004, the same year Bucci launched whosarat.com

According to Wikipedia, the Stop Snitching campaign gained national attention in late 2004 when artist Rodney Thomas released “Stop Snitching!” in Baltimore, Md., a place that is considered by some to be one of the most dangerous and crime ridden cities on the earth.

The video features footage of several men claiming to be drug dealers who address the camera, threatening violence against anyone who reports what they know about their crimes to the authorities.

This threat is especially directed towards those who inform on others to get a lighter sentence for their own crimes.

One person who appears, a notable NBA star named Carmelo Anthony who is a former resident of Baltimore, says it was all a joke and the message wasn’t intended to be taken seriously.

But like police, many talk show hosts and news reporters like CNN's Anderson Cooper see it is as much more than a prank or joke, they say it is bad business and without a doubt their criticism has led to an increased awareness of this new phenomena sweeping American inner-city culture.

According to one rapper quoted in Wikipedia, ”Stop Snitching doesn't mean stop talking to police. It's always misconstrued by the public, or the powers that be, that we're trying to intimidate the regular people or the law-abiding citizens. That's not what it's about."

It does appear that whosarat.com keeps its list narrowed to people who “rat” on others over drug crimes. The site's extensive disclaimer notes that in part that "All posts made by users should be considered as inaccurate opinions unless backed by official documents." It urges members to "Please post informants that are involved with non-violent crimes only."

But Salem, Oregon Police, along with other Oregon law enforcement agencies, have had what seems to be increasing good luck with drug suspects “rolling over” on each other. A recent story in Salem relayed how during a recent meth bust, one suspect after another continued talking to police, who kept arresting new suspects as they were named and subsequently, discovered to be in possession of more drugs. They all went to jail; the kids were taken away by state authorities. It certainly is a bittersweet ending.

Even if it has disappeared for the time being, new Web sites like whosarat.com devoted to exposing the identities of informants who cooperate with the police are making federal prosecutors furious and prompting calls to limit the public access of electronic files and databases.

According to The New York Times, the sites, like whosarat.com, post names and mug shots of government witnesses, along with court documents outlining the plea agreements they made in return for more lenient sentences. Much of the data is obtained from files readily available to anyone on the Internet.

Whosarat.com posted information last week on a Florida cocaine dealer who had a weapons charge dropped, in exchange for working in an undercover role to contact and negotiate with other drug dealers. The site and similar other sites are making the police/informant relationship strained.

The Times says the site was "initially modest and free, the seeming product of a drug defendant's fit of pique." It now charges between $7.99 for a week's access to $89.99 for a lifetime membership, which includes a free “Stop Snitching” T-shirt.

As of this particular day, the site is not coming up when the address is typed in. Perhaps it is a glitch, or something more interesting, like the pulling of a plug so to speak. It will be interesting to see if it comes back up, and even more interesting if it doesn't.

A Justice Department official issued a letter quoted by The Times, said these sites were set up "for the clear purpose of witness intimidation, retaliation and harassment," and pose "a grave risk of harm to cooperating witnesses and defendants."

They are also telling police officers to stay off the site in case information on the individual officer is traced by the site. The world is changing and it is hard to say where it is going next. Obviously, the violence that the nation has been so steeped in during recent years is taking on a newer and even more dangerous face, as the Internet continues to serve humanity as both a blessing and for some, a curse.

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Comments Leave a comment on this story.

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someone somebody February 8, 2017 8:40 pm (Pacific time)

heres a list for weber county utah bj william rust and every body at his house danny at the jeff wells ratt house mike casel sister penny daughter carrie chad and brad candland pam and k.c. richards

Anonymous October 7, 2016 12:04 pm (Pacific time)

MICHAEL PESOLA straight up snitch too

Flake February 24, 2016 8:11 pm (Pacific time)

Sandra Colleen Blakey of Davis county Utah, straight up snitch , witnessed in court, paper ready!

JENNIFERMOORE November 16, 2015 11:26 am (Pacific time)

Adrian scott ellis of Bloomington is a rat. he draws people in to his dojo and sets them up. Believe me I watched him set people up and I can gladly prove it. what you think im stupid enough to do this and not have proof. your done sensei.

Dennis Lester of weber county utah i November 16, 2015 7:32 am (Pacific time)

Police informant

Anonymous May 6, 2012 8:31 am (Pacific time)

I was told Queche has an informant.How true/false r his statements on his people??

Anonymous May 6, 2012 8:24 am (Pacific time)

Even informants can lie to protect themselves.How would anyone know of an informant?

Janet May 6, 2012 8:18 am (Pacific time)

I dont know much about this rat article.To me I would think that working with police that it could cause trouble with the family,as in children.If anyone is caught and they of course get mad,they may take it upon them selves to get back at informant by harming his children.?There was an informant yrs ago of vt who was shot in his yard.

lil kim utah August 7, 2011 2:41 am (Pacific time)

I was brought up that if u r going to play the game and get caught u do the time...And that people who snitch end up in ditches... I was snitched on I did my time knowing who the person was who snitch on me.. 2 wrongs do not make a right so instead of me acting out I have let them suffer in their own guilt daily cause I see them all most every day u know the saying KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS it works.

big T. April 7, 2011 9:35 am (Pacific time)

obx, nc. seems everybody is snitching on everybody. where is the honor?

stevo December 4, 2009 1:09 pm (Pacific time)

It's crazy how people make thire beds but can't lay n them. If u know what ur doing can get u time n u still decide to do that deed then everything is on u b a man,women n take ur charge.

Anonymous October 29, 2009 8:29 pm (Pacific time)

This low life ******** got caught trafficikng in lexington ky and is still ruining peoples lives, friends that own their own business and have great families, hate a snitch....

adafa10453 September 27, 2009 2:56 pm (Pacific time)

the world messed up and all this crapn cops and goverment there all working together this is one big cat and mouse game.

tracy July 22, 2009 3:50 pm (Pacific time)

anyone know how to find the snitch list

Renee April 4, 2009 4:42 pm (Pacific time)

nothiong good comes out of snitching,being a rat etc. cops get lazy and paid for writting reports and pushinhg paperwork,the jails get overcrowedd and the courts get backed up,which then costs all tax payers more money. people get taken from family because rats that get caught tell to save themselves from having to be away from their family and dope habits.people retaliate against the rats in various ways sometimes they just disappear, so now that all yhat are interested in this matter are countering and trying to priotect someone else from the sleazy acts of ceasepool dwelling rats are considered wrong and law enforcment agencys against it well for obvious selfish reasons,they would actually have to do some real detective work! im glad to see that theres still a handful of "old school" players out there!the government can put all of our personal information on line for anyone to access without our consent why cant we get a fair shot at protecting ourselves from being incarcerated?maybe snitchs would quit or think twice if they realize that there NOT protected because there faulty and work with cops, in fact the cops dont have no problem rubbing in someones face that theyve been ratted on and in alot of cases tell who told!!SO lets keep "informing "each other of who not to trustand whos out to harm ya, its our right. thanks

pamela hodge January 16, 2009 6:00 pm (Pacific time)

racheal kaelin,and jennifer pettyjohn out of bullitt co.kentucky are definately snitches they were caught manufacturing meth 400 thousand bond and 200 thousand full cash on friday and by monday they were both released on 5000 surity since then they have been caught at several meth labs since their release but always let go........... one of them even got their own cousin..................................................... ...................................................................

MuncHIizaGangsta December 14, 2008 5:43 pm (Pacific time)

You all know the rules of the game. Things aint the way they used to be. People tell because 'WHY NOT?' None of yall could ever truly say 'ILL NEVER SNITCH' and mean it. If you hustle and get caught, STOP! You aint *&$#% good at it. Get out the game people or face the consequences.
NOTE TO ALL:
AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?

Editor: You can't use that language here.

JenD November 12, 2008 2:07 am (Pacific time)

Snitches are bitches that do dirt and can't deal with the consequences, we have the right to face the punks in court then its ALL OVER for em.Any word on the rats in Utah??

Lester May 5, 2008 7:07 am (Pacific time)

check out stoptheact.com Y0u can expose and warn others about potential online predators.

Frank May 3, 2008 10:54 am (Pacific time)

I feel that it is simply the government and police more so to do there job...snitching makes it all to easy for the police and other enforcement agencies, what are our tax dollars paying for???...them to sit back and let snitches do the work? Snitching is cheap and low, snitches are garbage! It all should be Illegal!!! to all the law enforcement, Do your job that we pay you to do...lazy bastards!!!

shalloo52 akron OH. January 12, 2008 4:26 am (Pacific time)

I think that snitching should be illegal and band for ever and the soory MFs that try be imprisoned for life.Snitches are a dying breed of punk ass bitches that this world would be better off without!

roxxi December 26, 2007 3:46 am (Pacific time)

is their any websites that show snitches in utah?

snitchs should be executed December 15, 2007 11:28 pm (Pacific time)

i think they should be tied down to the ground an pour sugar on them an let red ants eat at them alive

Lowell September 13, 2007 10:27 am (Pacific time)

I have posted the transcripts of a drug informant at my web-site http://scint-stinks.com

Flashbac July 28, 2007 8:53 am (Pacific time)

I love informants. I don't care what their motive is just that they do inform. All law enforcement agencies needs reliable and confidental informants to flush out the criminal elements. Sites like "Who is a Rat" should be shunned by citizens. What is the worst event that could happen. Possibly a neuclear device being set off in your town. GOD help us all! With ignorant people like the ones who report informants on a website we will be destroyed. We have no chance. Don't you understand that we are targeted for genocide.

Da Snitch Hater July 13, 2007 10:02 am (Pacific time)

I think all snitches should be kilt.They don't desserve to live.Peoples know the concequences behind their wrong doing.If you can't do the time don't do the crime.I hate all snitches.When a person snitch that snitch is taking that person away family and messing up that person life.A snitch is going to always be locked up just minus the bars.So let the police their own work and stop doing it for them.Snitches get stitches.

Mys Rose July 10, 2007 8:26 am (Pacific time)

You not going to tell on the rapist and murderer of you child. Or even the individual who wants to kill you? I think that most crime is is provolked from fear. So who ever thinks that Snitching is a bad thing, I agree on some level, but when have we gone to far?

*shakin' tha feds* June 2, 2007 3:51 am (Pacific time)

if cops are going to let go of people with that commit small crimes that aren't punishable by much jail time just so they can give a partially false statement to get away i mean seriously what kind of law is that... if they commit a crime period they should be punished for it not let go to buy another illegal fire-arm and hold somebody up for money to buy drugs.... use ur noodle punk police... "convincing" poeple to snitch most of the time gets them looked down upon, possibly murdered, or just named for the rest of their life as a punk, at least beaten up....now i don't think the police really care about the well-being of informants when they know if they tell they'll get harmed, the police just want a shortcut to get the "big man"

nunya May 28, 2007 4:21 am (Pacific time)

snitches should all know its easier and safer to do your time for your crime. Those cops who depend on rats to do their job are just as *uck'd as you who tell. And for hiding behind the badge- brokebacks out there who want this "epidemic" to seize- maybe you shouldn't make it a top priority, the only thing people involved w/drugs harm are themselves, and you let violent RATS free, out to have fun and live their life. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN HURT BY A DRUG ABUSER?

Albert Marnell May 27, 2007 9:52 pm (Pacific time)

Law enforcement should remember the Knapp Commission and Frank Serpico. Police are far from exempt of unethical and illegal behavior. When it comes to law enforcement, sometimes the rats are just a group of officers involved in organized corruption and criminal activity including murder. They are just another group of good and evil people. Police should rat out each other like Frank Serpico. They still too often are involved in criminal activity and hide behind their uniform. www.badcopnews.com

MG May 24, 2007 5:35 am (Pacific time)

Let off gun charges to catch non-violent people, involved with drugs?! Is this the reason the violent are walking the streets and the non-violent are in jail! Are these snitches telling the truth? Or, are they also fabricating stories that make the police happy? I have lots of questions as to the value of true "snitches" buying their freedom with only, possibly reliable, information. How many lies are propagated by the police, snitches, and "federal prosecutors" in cahoots!

Anonymous May 23, 2007 2:28 pm (Pacific time)

Boy, that is a good example of democracy leading to unpleasant circumstances. It sounds like they have a right to do what they do, but I can hardly blame the police for being upset.

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Controversial Stop Snitching Website Identifies Informants Who Work With Police

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