 
n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY
 ·Optimum Online
| Three Years Gee, had they just shutup and gone quietly, they would be three years closer to getting out. Of course the difference between 17 and 20 years, or 12 and 15 years for the son, is probably not much to think about on your first day.
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I support the right to keep and arm bears. | |
|  | boober321
join:2003-07-15
Milwaukee, WI
 ·ViaTalk
| Re: Three Years I don't necessarily have an issue with two prisons, one for violent criminals, one for non-violent. But please, these "prisons" look like country clubs. Make then less than comfortable. Give then bland tasteless food, take away their pleasures. Prisons should be about both rehab AND payback. And how able taking every last cent they have? Why people like Ken Lay's wife was allowed to keep anything is beyond me. They should have lost everything they had to repay the people that were bilked. Where are the reparations? | |
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Camelot One
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Sarasota, FL
clubs:
| Re: Three Years You have to keep in mind that our laws, and our punishments, are set forth by people who tend to walk a fine line between legal and not. So anything that they MIGHT one day be found guilty of, has a much lighter punishment. "White Collar Crime" it's called.
You'll spend longer in jail for walking into a gas station and stealing $20 a knife point, than you would for insider trading resulting in millions of profit. Why? Because the guys who write the laws see the possibility they might take part in the latter, but they'd never rob a gas station.
Same thing goes for prisons, particularly Federal. State prisons tend to all pretty much suck, but the Club Fed has some downright nice retirement facilities for guys like these two.
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Intel Quad Core QX6700 @3500Mhz/Asus P5N32-E SLI/4x 1024Mb Corsair/WD 74Gb Raptor/PNY 7800GTs SLI/Antec 550 True Control/Custom water cooler | |
| satellite68
join:2007-04-11
Louisville, KY
1 edit | Once again I say... If he got caught with a crack rock and a 9 mm, he'd be getting pegged in the 'pooter right quick like in hard time jail...but because he's merely pilfered billions of dollars, he gets the cake walk treatment.
This country's "rule of law" is unfairly catering to rich, smug bastards like this snake. What a fucking sham our country has become when our leaders have failed us like they have.
*Edit. And by leaders, I mean ALL of our leaders, left and right, Dem and Rep., federal, state, and local. | |
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kapil
The Kapil
join:2000-04-26
Chicago, IL
| Re: Once again I say... There is a good argument to be made that the purpose of imprisonment is rehabilitation, not punitive punishment by subjecting people to "getting pegged in the 'pooter".
It's not that this "snake" is getting good treatment...it's that we subject the brown and black "criminals" to sub-human treatment while they are paying their debt to society. | |
| | | satellite68
join:2007-04-11
Louisville, KY
| Re: Once again I say... Oh, I know what you mean, but doesn't it seem like there's two systems of justice here? One for poor, and one for rich? White collar crime gets the cake walk treatment in this country-especially when the white collar criminals can afford that second justice system.
Equal protection under the law-almost sounds like a joke after reading about this assclown. | |
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Titus Pullo
I came, I saw, I slept
join:2004-06-26
 ·Embarq
| said by kapil  :It's not that this "snake" is getting good treatment...it's that we subject the brown and black "criminals" to sub-human treatment while they are paying their debt to society. That's because we've become a nation of men and not laws. | |
| | | | OldCodeToad
Premium
join:2007-08-15
Oceanside, CA
1 edit | Re: Once again I say... said by Titus Pullo :said by kapil : That's because we've become a nation of men and not laws. You are exactly correct Titus. What's worse, not one of 'em is a decent, intelligent leader able to build, rather than manipulate, a CIVIL society. About 2 years after 9/11, I was at one of those $50 a plate lunches to hear a Supreme Court Justice speak. Seating is random, and I ended up taking the last chair at a particular table. By chance the man to my right, and affable sort, was the US Attorney for the XX-th District, and all the others at the table were his minions.
I'm not a lawyer, but I spent a long time studying useless things like history. During lunch we got to talking about what it means to have a civil society, why America could have withstood things like the resignation in disgrace of Nixon without tanks in the street, the British Stamp Tax being the origin of the 4th Amendment, and all that.
A pleasant chat turned sour, and an actual chill came on me, when we were harmlessly talking about Jefferson. The US Attorney's comment at some point was, "yes, but after 9/11, Jeffersonian thinking, maybe even parts of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and some Black Letter Law are just quaint remembrance of times past."
LET ME REPEAT - "quaint remembrance of times past!!!!" Suddenly I thought of a scene in some film in which Nazi officials, SS men and ordinary staff officers of the Third Reich are seated at big round tables, listening to a background performance of Strauss, and enjoying a pleasant repast amid lots of social chatter.
The US Attorney was such an affable fellow, the kind of nice guy you would want for a friend or neighbor, and he thinks the very core of our society is just a quaint memory. I could imagine hearing Strauss and seeing my lunch partner wearing a Party Pin with gold swastika on his nice black suit.
Before anybody starts waiving a flag in my face, though I was a sorry-ass excuse for a soldier, I too fought for this country and spilled blood on the ground in a very nasty part of the world. I wish I was so noble that I could say I did it because going to Canada or hiding in Grad school was, like Plato would explain, breaking with the society that gave life to me and my family. But I did it and because of better soldiers than me I came home. So get that flag out of my face.
We are leaderless and living in a society of power and not of law. When they come for YOU and there is nobody to speak for you, when you could find yourself in a Navy Brigg without charge or trial for any period of time "they" choose, remember that what you THOUGHT about your country is a just a quaint anachronism.
We are living in The New Order, Titus Pullo, old boy, and there is nothing we can do about it. | |
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jtudor
Xm 60's On 6 Freak
Premium,MVM
join:2002-12-07
Morganton, NC
| said by kapil :There is a good argument to be made that the purpose of imprisonment is rehabilitation, not punitive punishment". Actually the purpose of imprisonment should be two fold: rehabilitation and punishment.
I say both because it is the punishment part that is a deterrent to crime. The threat of rehabilitation will not offer any deterrent to the commission of crimes, but the threat of punishment and a hard life in prison will.
That is the reason crime is so rampant today, we no longer punish criminals, even in the facilities where hardened lifers go, they still live the life of Riley, they just don't have the freedom to go where and when they want to go. Because of our "coddle the poor criminals" mentality, they are no longer forced to live in hard conditions, or do hard backbreaking work for no pay. If we went back to that system, while still treating the criminals with basic human goodness we would have a lot less crime all around the world.
The problem is that punishment for committing a crime s no longer swift nor sure.
--
Best of luck
"Do, or Do not, there is no try!" Yoda
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kapil
The Kapil
join:2000-04-26
Chicago, IL
| Re: Once again I say... That's quite untrue. Punishment doesn't serve as a deterrent...it has been proven time and time again.
...and crime isn't rampant...actually, crime is at historic lows in this country.
It's people like you, who continue to live willfully in blissful ignorance that contribute to the problem. We don't treat prisoners humanely...and we sure the hell don't rehabilitate them. If we did, perhaps our crime rate, as low as it is compared to our track record, would match that of other developed nations. | |
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norky
Premium
join:2002-12-02
Lithia, FL | If you got caught with crack and a 9 you wouldn't be serving 20 years. | |
| | | satellite68
join:2007-04-11
Louisville, KY
| Re: Once again I say... said by norky :If you got caught with crack and a 9 you wouldn't be serving 20 years. Maybe, but would the system wait three years before they incarcerated you? Hardly. | |
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N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Once again I say... said by satellite68 :said by norky :If you got caught with crack and a 9 you wouldn't be serving 20 years. Maybe, but would the system wait three years before they incarcerated you? Hardly. No they wouldn't, but...
This is in essence, a property crime and a situational offender. The only way this person commits this crime again is if by some miracle (or act of demonic possession) he ends up the CEO of a company again. Not likely to happen. So, even if this guy is out on appeal, it's not likely he will embezzle another company dry while he's waiting to go to prison.
On the other hand, the gang banger with a 9MM and a bag of crack is a threat to just about everyone in the community every day he's out there doing what he does. He's a threat to everyone in his community due to his gat, and he needs to be off the streets.
There is a line between property crimes and crimes of violence. Especially when faced with situational offenders. Now, I'm not standing up for this piece of shit, and I never will.
But, people who commit property crimes and are prosecuted in the Federal system are permitted to remain at liberty during their appeal on a regular basis. This is nothing out of the ordinary.
As far as doing 20 years for a 9mm and a bag of crack, that rarely happens. Besides, there are so many variables in that scenario (how much crack? How was it packaged? Was that person "prohibited" from possessing a firearm? Was the firearm stolen?, etc).
I can tell you this much, in all my experience with the courts and corrections, you get caught with a gun and a bag of crack the FIRST time, you are NOT going to jail, let a lone for 20 years.
First offense, probably diversion with drug treatment, at worst probation.
It's the 4th 5th and 6th offenders that get lengthy prison sentences for a bag of crack and a 9MM.
I could go on, but it's too much like talking about work at this point (and I loathe my work).
I'll finish by saying I dislike judges, lawyers, and the court system in this country, but what happened to this guy is par for the course for what he did. Compared to other defendants/convicts faced with the same situation, he got the same treatment.
May he rot...
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Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power… | |
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FiL
Premium
join:2005-08-16
Silver Spring, MD
1 edit | Re: Once again I say... Damn man, I think I need to take my crack and gun over to your state, bro...
I HARDLY believe the "first" offense for crack and a gun is taken lightly as you said...
Matter of fact, in D.C., those 2 will get you series time; around 3-5 years depending on severity. But you can bilk the public for billions, taking down with you monies owed to the public and needed by the public, and be out in 20...bahhh. Like Enron, thousands of families got affected by the actions of a few. There IS a two tier justice system unfortunately, and no matter how much of a downer the topic of racism seems to be, its very much present today and and easily pointed out in the amount of minorities in prison. The minority becomes the majority only in prison...lol. | |
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Ebolla
join:2005-09-28
Dracut, MA
| Re: Once again I say... said by FiL :Matter of fact, in D.C., those 2 will get you series time; around 3-5 years depending on severity. I coulda sworn in DC crack got you appointment mayor. | |
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chotty
join:2004-07-12
Birmingham, AL | Re: Once again I say... Good one!
"Life is like Marion Barry - it's not all it's cracked up to be". | |
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N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
·Verizon FIOS
·Verizon Online DSL
| Well, the laws are a little different in DC.
Let's take the 2 jurisdictions I work in Delaware and Pennsylvania.
Remember, we're talking about someone with NO previous criminal history (Like our topic of discussion here).
The gun, if not stolen, is basically carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. DC is different, since just possession of a handgun in and of itself is a felony.
Let's just say the crack is of weight an packaging that would be considered personal use.
In either PA or DE, the CCDW without a permit would be plea bargained down to carrying a concealed deadly instrument (a misdemeanor) and the possession of crack for personal use (simple possession) is also a misdemeanor.
In both PA and DE these charges, even if brought to a conviction, would draw standard probation with about 1 year of back up time (and if they violate the probation, the NEVER EVER EVER get the full year back).
You can not believe me all you want, I would've thought the same thing before I worked in the system myself, but I can assure you this is all %110 true.
Maryland and DC may be different, and I can't vouch for those jurisdictions, since I've never worked there. But, I can assure you that this is INDEED the case in Delaware and Pennsylvania.
Example: First time "Possession With Intent to Deliver" offender in Delaware, with no other felonies is by Superior Court POLICY referred to a diversionary program for first time drug offenders. If they complete the drug program, and stay clean, the new drug dealing charge is noll proseqi (SP) or not prosecuted, and the person never draws the conviction.
People seem to form their conception of the courts only from the "celebrated" or high profile cases.
The things that go on in the courtrooms of America today are mostly unknown by the general public. Almost everyone gets a big break the first time around.
Believe me or don't, I don't care. But I see it every day, and have for the past 10 years.
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Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power… | |
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FiL
Premium
join:2005-08-16
Silver Spring, MD
1 edit | Depends on 'where' you get caught...Commonwealth's such as Virginia throw the book at you like its nothing.
Crack gets you more time then a cocaine charge...wonder why? | |
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AB
Premium
join:2006-04-04
Leesburg, VA
2 edits | Re: Once again I say... said by FiL :Depends on 'where' you get caught...Commonwealth's such as Virginia throw the book at you like its nothing. . . . I'm not sure what being a Commonwealth has to do with that, specifically?
There are only four Commonwealths among the 50 States, btw-- Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Kentucky.
I'd doubt there is any evidence that shows sentencing in those four States to be anything far out of the norm, much less in a severe-sentencing percentile noticibly higher than the other forty-six.
said by hobgoblin :I used to drive past the land EVERY day. Believe me ther is No Golf course, it was never built. It was funny watching the out of town news reporters looking for pristine greens and a clubhouse. Yeah, I'll bet that was hilarious.
A true golfer just pulls out a stick, drops a ball, and plays 'er as she lays, btw. Improvise and go. Don't need no stinkin' course.
Guess there's just that much more money stashed away for later, then.
*Edit- correction | |
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N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
·Verizon FIOS
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Once again I say... "Commonwealth" has nothing to do with it.
The term Commonwealth is a vestigial term left over from pre colonial days.
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonweal···tates%29
PA, VA, MA, and KT are states. Plane and simple......
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Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power… | |
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AB
Premium
join:2006-04-04
Leesburg, VA
| Re: Once again I say... said by N3OGH :"Commonwealth" has nothing to do with it. The term Commonwealth is a vestigial term left over from pre colonial days. » en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonweal···tates%29PA, VA, MA, and KT are states. Plane and simple...... Yes, they are States, plain and simple. Commonwealth States.
It has to do with the way funds are distributed to State agencies and entities.
Little to do with the way crimes are prosecuted however, as FiL suggested it did.
And don't go telling the good citizens of the Republic of Texas that they live in "just a State"-- unless of course dodging hot lead is your idea of a fun afternoon.   | |
| | 
Hmmmmmm
@rogers.com
| said by satellite68 :*Edit. And by leaders, I mean ALL of our leaders, left and right, Dem and Rep., federal, state, and local. Yes, of course, everyone in authority has failed "us", and that everyone is a crook, well everyone except you I guess. You must be the messiah we all have been waiting for.  | |
| | | satellite68
join:2007-04-11
Louisville, KY
| Re: Once again I say... said by Hmmmmmm :said by satellite68 :*Edit. And by leaders, I mean ALL of our leaders, left and right, Dem and Rep., federal, state, and local. Yes, of course, everyone in authority has failed "us", and that everyone is a crook, well everyone except you I guess. You must be the messiah we all have been waiting for. Please, expound your logic. I'm intrigued as to who you think hasn't allowed our justice system to become a joke, our southern border to become a joke, our international standing to become a joke...please let me know. Thanks.
Our country used to be "by the people, for the people". Now it's definitely not-unless of course the "people" are multinational corporations who have leveraged our political and justice systems with outright bribery, who have bilked the American taxpayer out of billions of dollars, and who have sold out our futures in the name of short term profits by shipping jobs overseas and disrupting our economy under the auspices of "free market" economics. Tell me who has defended our country against these jackals who have done all of these things in our name and with our tax dollars? | |
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guitarzan
Premium
join:2004-05-04
Skytop, PA
·epix
| said by satellite68 :...but because he's merely pilfered billions of dollars, he gets the cake walk treatment. This country's "rule of law" is unfairly catering to rich, smug bastards like this snake. What a fucking sham our country has become when our leaders have failed us like they have. *Edit. And by leaders, I mean ALL of our leaders, left and right, Dem and Rep., federal, state, and local. Cake walk treatment? You betcha. Rigas will not see the inside of a real jail cell. I doubt either one will be placed in a cell block among the general population. Most likely it will be a catered vacation in a club med type, light security detail on the tennis court affair.
Indeed, there are two "rules of law" in this country, always has been, always will. One set of rules for the rich to rape, pillage and plunder by and one set of rules for the poor to live and serve their masters by.
Those not affected by lower class laws for example: Ted "whiskey sponge" Kennedy and William Smith. Ken Lay of Enron. Paris Hilton. Who could forget Dick "dem old shotgun blues" Cheney, etc....
As to who gets pegged in the 'pooter', steal a loaf of bread to feed your family. The wheels of justice will crush ya alive, when hauling one from the unwashed masses in to have justice served.
Best advice a lawyer could/did offer in (Rigas')situation. Buy off a few politicians, to ensure a light sentence and a slap on the wrist.
Each and every politician these days is more crooked than a hind leg on a dog, after the dog was hit by a speeding bus on a highway.
--
Come on crazy mutant desert men, just because they got Jr. in the car doesn't mean they have Bud on the car. | |
| 
Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL | ABOUT TIME.. GOOD. Enjoy your time in jail. | |
| | lesopp
join:2001-06-27
Land O Lakes, FL | My Perspective Another turd is finally flushed away! | |
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FicmanS
Premium
join:2005-01-11
Brownsburg, IN
clubs: | Have a GREAT stay... Hid 2.3 BILLION...
How does that happen to begin with, have a good stay in prison. I can only image what those personal project were... | |
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Iwantonetoo
@QWEST.NET | Re: Have a GREAT stay... Well, there was the professionally designed 18 hole golf course in the back yard for starters. | |
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hobgoblin
Sortof Agoblin
Premium
join:2001-11-25
Orchard Park, NY
clubs:
| Re: Have a GREAT stay... Feel free to visit Coudersport any time and I will show you the FARMLAND that bears no resemblance to a course.
Please try and keep it factual.
Hob
--
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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FiL
Premium
join:2005-08-16
Silver Spring, MD | Re: Have a GREAT stay... yea, you got your hands on the blueprints, I presume? For all you know, its an underground course...2.3 billions a lot of money, right? | |
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hobgoblin
Sortof Agoblin
Premium
join:2001-11-25
Orchard Park, NY
clubs:
| Re: Have a GREAT stay... said by FiL :yea, you got your hands on the blueprints, I presume? For all you know, its an underground course...2.3 billions a lot of money, right? I used to drive past the land EVERY day. Believe me ther is No Golf course, it was never built.
It was funny watching the out of town news reporters looking for pristine greens and a clubhouse.
Hob
--
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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AmeritecTech
Change we can believe in, 1922
Premium
join:2002-09-06
Houston, TX
| said by FicmanS :Hid 2.3 BILLION... How does that happen to begin with, have a good stay in prison. I can only image what those personal project were... The first rule about Project Mayhem is you do not talk about Project Mayhem.
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"Independent thinkers tend to ALWAYS have someone Not agreeing with them. It's The non-thinkers that ALWAYS come in legions."
-John Callari | |
| brianiscool
join:2000-08-16
Miami, FL | hah I think most of the money went into project "Yacht" and project "Manson" . | |
| | jester121
Premium
join:2003-08-09
Lake Zurich, IL | Re: hah Charles or Marilyn? | |
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jsimmons
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-24
Falls Church, VA | And a pro hockey team (Buffalo Sabres)? | |
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ztmike
Mark for moderation
Premium
join:2001-08-02
Michigan City, IN | Stupid I'm shocked they didn't move over seas somewhere ..i would of been GONE, you can easily hide overseas with the money they had..
As far as letting the rich get off easy...I think Paris Hilton has the medal for that one. | |
| |
NOWAY
| This is a joke! I would say pass the vasoline but I guess it pass the caviar. | |
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N3OGH
Bear patrol must be working like a charm
Premium
join:2003-11-11
Philly burbs
·Verizon FIOS
·Verizon Online DSL
| We're not going to country club prison... Michael Bolton: We get caught laundering money, we're not going to white-collar resort prison. No, no, no. We're going to federal POUND ME IN THE ASS prison.
Samir: I don't want to go to ANY prison!
Peter Gibbons: Lawrence, you awake?
Lawrence: Yeah.
Peter Gibbons: You wanna come over?
Lawrence: No, thanks, man. I don't want you fucking up my life, too....
Just seemed like a great place for an Office Space quote.
ENJOY!
--
Petty people are disproportionably corrupted by petty power… | |
| gatchel
join:2000-11-28
16465 | Who's next... Comcast? | |
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cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN | Re: yup You do realize that is the OUTSIDE of the prison and not the inside? | |
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cork1958
Cork
join:2000-02-26
Fruitport, MI
1 edit | a whole lot more Now, all we need to do is the same thing with all the crooked congressmen!  | |
| | | ncbill
Premium
join:2007-01-23
Winston Salem, NC
| Free for three years? They're examples for the next guy.
Next time someone pulls 20 years federal time (no parole), they'll be using whatever time the judge allows them to remain free to to plan their escape, not their appeal.
Those in the future who follow this path will learn from the Rigas' mistake, and will stash some of their funds overseas for a rainy day. | |
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tannman
Premium
join:2002-09-12
Oxnard, CA
clubs:
| About time Hey these two greedy men were responsible for the demise of a great American company...They recieved a much lighter sentence then what I would have given them. There is the employees as well as subscribers and both suffered. If ya cant do the time well dont do the crime | |
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The Rigas Family Heads To Prison
personal projects
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Sonny got the longer prison sentence
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