FRAUD: Sentences should be longer

Every day there is an article of someone or some group of people convicted for fraud charges anywhere from $100,000 to hundreds of millions. The prison sentences vary so much and it’s hard to actually get details, because it varies from state to state, whether it is a federal charge or local state charges. 

Some sentences give a sentence so incredibly low, say five years, but they have to pay restitution. So how does this criminal pay restitution for millions of dollars, obviously he won’t be able to. Once again, the taxpayers lose out.

It seems like fraud is now part of many people’s DNA and becomes acceptable and nobody pays attention to it. So what is the answer?

Coming from a background of 26 years in law enforcement, I say much longer prison sentences. You have to make the penalty so long that only deranged people who are consumed with greed will consider it.

The alternative is to let it go on and watch your tax dollars go in the trash.

There is another thought that would solve it like the commandment against stealing, the Eighth Commandment, which states “You shall not steal.” Of course, in our culture now, that would infringe on people’s right to believe whatever they want and get religion out of government.

Bottom line, you have to start somewhere, because the penalties we have now are not working. To keep ignoring it means it will just be the same old thing every day, where greed wins and the taxpayer lose

GEORGE SILVA

Vietnam Veteran

Coeur d’Alene