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...and Justice for some

specklebang

specklebang

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Beanie Baby Maker Ty Warner Avoids Jail in Tax Case - Businessweek

While I agree that prison is usually a terrible solution, this guy did something that would get you or me a couple of years in the hoosegow. Instead, not even a minute for him.

So, is this justice, or is this justice for the rich only? Here is a guy who is fantastically rich and yet that wasn't enough for him. So he evades taxes, gets caught and buys his way out, home free. Is it me, or is this a special kind of justice for the rich?
 
specklebang said:
Beanie Baby Maker Ty Warner Avoids Jail in Tax Case - Businessweek

While I agree that prison is usually a terrible solution, this guy did something that would get you or me a couple of years in the hoosegow. Instead, not even a minute for him.

So, is this justice, or is this justice for the rich only? Here is a guy who is fantastically rich and yet that wasn't enough for him. So he evades taxes, gets caught and buys his way out, home free. Is it me, or is this a special kind of justice for the rich?
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I don't know but I want him to share some of that special justice with me :D
 
specklebang said:
Beanie Baby Maker Ty Warner Avoids Jail in Tax Case - Businessweek

While I agree that prison is usually a terrible solution, this guy did something that would get you or me a couple of years in the hoosegow. Instead, not even a minute for him.

So, is this justice, or is this justice for the rich only? Here is a guy who is fantastically rich and yet that wasn't enough for him. So he evades taxes, gets caught and buys his way out, home free. Is it me, or is this a special kind of justice for the rich?
Click to expand...

I have mixed feelings about this.

Warner has paid a civil penalty of $53 million and filed amended tax returns for the years 1999 to 2008, his lawyers said. He has also paid $14 million in back taxes and interest, according to prosecutors.
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Seems to me the public is served well enough. Let him continue to make money. He knows he'll be on the IRS watch list for years to come. He'll be so honest, he'll squeak.

Money is the appropriate way to punish this, I think.
 
MaggieD said:
I have mixed feelings about this.

Seems to me the public is served well enough. Let him continue to make money. He knows he'll be on the IRS watch list for years to come. He'll be so honest, he'll squeak.

Money is the appropriate way to punish this, I think.
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Yes, probably. But if you pull the same stunt with a few thousand, you'll do some light time in a Club Fed. So, this is a case of purchased justice, not available to all of us. That seems just a bit wrong.

Kind of like UBS and their drug money laundering. A crime that would get you 20 years and they simply pay the USG part of their profits and they're home free.

So it makes sense, yes, but still....
 
MaggieD said:
I have mixed feelings about this.



Seems to me the public is served well enough. Let him continue to make money. He knows he'll be on the IRS watch list for years to come. He'll be so honest, he'll squeak.

Money is the appropriate way to punish this, I think.
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I disagree that money is an appropriate way to punish this, but it is an appropriate way to correct the damage. There should be jail time because, when someone is that rich, the only thing they have to fear is the same thing they have to fear if they go into a high-roller casino. Lacking non-monetary punishment, it literally becomes nothing more than gambling so long as they can afford to pay the loss on the bet if it happens.

What my point is, is that either way, the same person is practically guaranteed not to try it again like you said, but one of them might make it seem like something they wouldn't be afraid to try and the other actually gives them something to fear.

Oh and, none of that Martha Stewart house arrest crap :peace

What he got was 2 years of probation, and 500 hours of community service in schools. I'm curious what exactly they will have him do. Will he be the janitor or are they going to have him substitute teach or be a bus guard?
 
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I have to agree with this. What better punishment than to make him pay back all the due taxes he avoided with interest, plus a nice hefty fine. I assume the IRS has some sort of "offenders" list for people who don't pay taxes and give them an extra "go over" on their filings.


MaggieD said:
I have mixed feelings about this.



Seems to me the public is served well enough. Let him continue to make money. He knows he'll be on the IRS watch list for years to come. He'll be so honest, he'll squeak.

Money is the appropriate way to punish this, I think.
Click to expand...
 
Why does one person do time for the same crime, and the other merely pays fees?
 
MaggieD said:
I have mixed feelings about this.

Seems to me the public is served well enough. Let him continue to make money. He knows he'll be on the IRS watch list for years to come. He'll be so honest, he'll squeak.

Money is the appropriate way to punish this, I think.
Click to expand...
I don't disagree with this, as long as the average person gets the same treatment. Consistency.
 
What I find most appalling is that the government taxed him $1 BILLION dollars, when his net worth is 1.6 billion, taking some of his money away. Also the fact that they waste that money is appalling. Its tempting to not pay taxes considering the junk that it goes towards. But I'm not old enough to pay anyways, so don't put me on a watch list NSA (i know you are reading this, NSA agent ;) )
 
radcen said:
I don't disagree with this, as long as the average person gets the same treatment. Consistency.
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The "average person" is seldom criminally prosecuted and is allowed to settle his tax liabilities for pennies on the dollar.
 
radcen said:
You believe the radio ads?
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Owing taxes that are unpaid and perpetuating fraud are 2 different things.

This was a clear case of fraud and most ordinary people would get a few years since they lack a billion dollars to pay off with.
 
specklebang said:
Beanie Baby Maker Ty Warner Avoids Jail in Tax Case - Businessweek

While I agree that prison is usually a terrible solution, this guy did something that would get you or me a couple of years in the hoosegow. Instead, not even a minute for him.

So, is this justice, or is this justice for the rich only? Here is a guy who is fantastically rich and yet that wasn't enough for him. So he evades taxes, gets caught and buys his way out, home free. Is it me, or is this a special kind of justice for the rich?
Click to expand...

When average people get into serious legal quandaries...their innocence runs out when their checkbook does.
 
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