have someone dead to rights

have (one) dead to rights

To have enough evidence to prove that one is guilty of a crime or other misdeed; to catch one committing a crime. Thanks to footage from the security cameras, the police had the burglars dead to rights. The teacher came up behind us as I was copying Lewis's test and had us both dead to rights.
See also: dead, have, right
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

have someone dead to rights

tv. to have caught someone red-handed; to have irrefutable evidence about someone’s misdeed. (see also (bang) dead to rights.) The cops had him dead to rights.
See also: dead, have, right, someone
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • have (one) dead to rights
  • have dead to rights
  • bang dead to rights
  • convict
  • convict of
  • convict of (something)
  • hanged for a sheep (as well) as a lamb, (might) as well be
  • frame (someone) for (something)
  • at one blow
  • get off scot-free