Homeless man gets 15 years in jail for 100$, CEO gets 40 months for 3 Billion.

[fulano]

This disgusts me.

How do you guys feel about this? Any idea of what we can do to make this shit better?

I think we are missing a lot of information. How many times has the homeless man been convicted? Were any of those priors also felonies as the robbery was a felony? Did he get an added sentence for acting like he had a gun? Most states slap on an extra 10 years for a crime involving a gun, or acting like you have a gun. He said he was going to detox. Did he have drugs on him during the robbery?

Now don't misunderstand me. I think the CEO should have done hard time as well, but we don't have enough information to understand the rulings separately. Much less in comparison to each other.

That Martha Stewart thing pissed me off to no end. Just to let you know.

Let's assume that he, Mr. Homeless Man, was a repeat offender, for argument's sake, ok? Mr. CEO stole from lenders.

No matter how many crimes Mr. Homeless Man commited in his lifetime, they cannot amount to three billion fucking dollars and as far as we know, he didn't kill anyone nor abused anyone. So, what exactly are we judging? The extent of actual damage done isn't it, apparently.

 

[Heathrow]

From what I've gleaned so far from what I've managed to find; I'm going with this article as being fabricated...like so many others.

For what reason? Anti-establishment? Shrugs.

Perhaps someone was tired of people ignoring the more subtle inequalities of our legal system and contrived an ideal injustice which could not be easily ignored? It seems to have the exaggerated details of an apologue or a satire, there is little doubt in my mind that this story is fictional.

Perhaps it is not a bad fiction though, if it makes people think about how tiered our society really is. It is no fantasy that some people are provided with more options in life than others and it is true that a rich man holds power and influence far greater than a poor one. So there is a seed of fact in this story which it is best not to ignore even if it seems much too fantastic to take at face value.

 

[hamasins]

as unfair as it is at least the homeless person wont be hungry and has a place to stay for 15 years, as much as it sucks that he got screwed over hes probably better of in prison... judge did him a favor.

 

[DigitalSushi]

That sort of situation seems to be normal in this day and age, I actually worked under a CEO that was found guilty of manslaughter because of his cost cutting in the public sector caused two train crashes, he never went to prison, instead he got a job running another fucking company.

I always addressed him as murderer, because I'm a face value kinda guy!

It's the 3 strike rule, that's why he got 15 years. A little sad but he's done crime before.

The odd thing is, he'll now get a bed and food everyday for the next 15 years, he wont be stealing anymore because he wont be hungry, well done chap.

I salute you remorseful homeless guy.

 

[AlexLoxate]

This world is mad.

 

[scar_47]

Odds are homeless guy was a repeat offender even if not its still armed robbery versus embezzlement which is considered a lesser crime, being able to afford a good lawyer is also extremely helpful also if the embezzlement guy was able to return a large portion of the funds you'll usually see a reduced sentence. I do think white collar crimes need to get a lot more time than they do but armed robbery is no small crime. Yes I'm aware there was no actual gun but under most state laws as long as the criminal threatens with a weapon its considered armed robbery which in my state is a 15 year minimuj sentence.

 

[Astoria]

I'd be willing to bet repeat offender. Most times you see a sentence like this it's for a '3 strikes' rule.

You'd hope so because that's ridiculous. 1) he was clearly in a desperate state 2) he returned the money and 3) he pleaded guilty. How is it fair that he gets 15 years when the other guy got bit over 3 years for stealing much more.

 

[sonic500]

Oh come the crap on.
I know the dude stole $100 but he gave it back.
id have given him like 9 moutnhs or something.

 

[SHIFTYMACO]

What people fail to realize is not the amount involved but the way the crime was carried out.
White collar crime vs Armed robbery (The fact that he didn't have a gun but pretended to still makes it armed robbery)
Still heavy handed though.
Here in Australia your better of killing someone than stealing something from them.

 

[Mcupobob]

Fucking trips me out how we treat rich people. The banks for one will give you fucking money for having so much money in the bank and if you don't have enough money in the bank they fucking take it! Sigh* I've giving up on economical ideas, because no matter the system its going to keep the poor, poor and the rich, rich. Almost every economical structure we've built should work only problem is that we haven't made one that takes human error into account.

More on topic that homeless man probably went to a over-crowed understaffed rape-tastic dirty prison, while that CEO got to take a three year vacation in club fed. Another fun thought is that homeless guy might have become homeless because he got layed off at his job working at the same company as this CEO because he had to do "budget cuts" because he was laundering the money form the cut backs. Years later the man has lost everything, breaking to the point of robbing a bank for only a measly $100 because he just wanted enough to get by.

Even after the deed was done he still had enough decency and humanity in him even after all his been through to go back and admit his mistakes and apologize and accept the punishment being sentenced 15 years for other offenses such as shoplifting cloths and panhandle this being his third strike, only die in the prison after 7 horrible months in jail. The CEO got out of a breezy and only 2 year stay in prison. Gets out and taps into his swiss bank account he managed to keep secret and retires off in the Caribbeans.

This should really be a movie.

 

[Goldeneye103X2]

This may not be as cruel as people are thinking.

He is going to prison yes but it may be possible that the judge sent him there on such a sentance on sympathy.

I had a Local Magistrate as a Teacher in college he stated once how he had a hearing where a homeless man would commit a minor crime every Christmas and he would sent him to prison over the Christmas holiday, Why do this? The man was committing the crime because he wanted to go to prison where he had shelter and food available and the Magistrate obliged him so he didn't starve over Christmas.

It may be a similar circumstance he may be going to prison but for 15 years he is going to have clean clothes, shelter, food and medical care that he wouldn't have living on the street.

There are two sides to every story and sometimes sending a man to prison is a mercy that looks like a curse.

Good point, but the CEO still got 40 mins for fraud.
Thats pretty stupid.

 

[Zeema]

Deju vu

but yeah i rekon it should be fair

OH wait i forgot fairness is overrated because people can cheat systems and get all the goddam money that want

 

[spacepope22]

Well, the second article says he used had his hand in his pocket like it was a gun. The law on armed robbery in Louisiana is anywhere from ten to 99 years, without parole.

Source: http://www.babcockpartners.com/resources/statutes/louisiana-armed-robbery-law

 

[Hamish Durie]

status: unsurprised but still sadend

 

[JochemDude]

Maybe it has something to do with the homeless man not wanting to be homeless anymore... Just saying. On the other hand the CEO got of too lightly I would sentence him to 20 years and cutting him of from all his belongings, which'll go to his family. I don't know how prison is in the US if you believe the shows (hard time and such) it's pure hell. If we were talking Dutch prisons were the legal system never gives you more than 15 years in a cell with everything, with everything I mean games, books, television, internet and so on. If it's anything like that in 'not' maximum security prisons I really can't blame the homeless guy.

Pretty much like everyone said, CEO case is corrupt as shit and the Homeless guy is either a doubtable story, racism or a very reasonable explanation for it. My money is on the latter.

 

[thatcanadianguy]

its down in the south, and hes black. im surprised the judge didn't sentence him to a hanging.

and on the other story, its the CEO of a large powerfull corporation, and he probably had a lot of good lawyers.

welcome to the modern world people. it'll bend you over a snooker table, rape you 8 ways from snday and make you ask for more.

 

[BlackSaint09]

So on one side this is pure BS, and on the other its a present.
The only way this would be good for him were if he wasnt sent to a prison which is synonymus with hell.
And yes. Its obvious that the CEO got this sentence due to the contents of his wallet/bank account.

 

[Jessta]

Hmmm at first I felt a great deal of sympathy for this man and then I remembered something, I saw a homeless man on the side of the street, starving and freezing as he wallowed in his own filth and disgust, he had a bad cough and had given up even on asking for money, I decided in the end to give him some food and bring him some blankets the next day, 2 years later I came back to that town and he was still there, the blanket I had once given him had become part of his clothing and was now filthy and rotten with the rest of his attire, he hadn't changed since the last I saw him... Honestly I think jail would be better than that, wouldn't you agree?
I mean seriously if he had gotten to the point of hunger where he was willing to attempt to rob a bank then chances are he didn't have any close family to miss while he was in jail, and from what I understand of jails they provide you with multiple meals a day, clean clothes, and a free place to stay, I think that sounds better than the prior...
The CEO should have gotten more time though... Although to be fair he probably lost something as well as his time where as all the homeless guy had to lose was time.

 

[Ickorus]

Free food, healthcare and a roof over his head? Roy is probably going to have a much better life in prison.

The CEO only getting 3 years is wrong though.