Stadium Naples: Rasmussen, Bob Hardy both get probation ["Punishment" for racketeering: Probation]

The Naples Daily News [SW FL] ^ | Jan 10, 2003 | Denise Zoldan

[summer]

...[ESPN Sports cable tv founder and defendant,] Rasmussen used to be booked as a public speaker but now cannot get work.

Prior scheduled speaking engagements were canceled after the charges were filed.

"The punishment is huge," Berry said.[...] He [Rasmussen] now lives in New Jersey and will be permitted to report to Collier County Probation Department through the mail if the probation department wants to handle his reporting in that manner.

...It was [defendant] Hardy's idea to donate 800 hours of community service rather than serve four years probation and eight months of house arrest, which was the previously agreed-upon plea deal.

Am I wrong to feel outraged by this non-existent "punishment" for RACKETEERING? Why don't we just all admit at the onset that for white collar crime, the punishment is: NONE.

True, you may get your public speaking engagements cancelled -- but, hey, you also get to avoid any and all jail time, and decide you don't even want house arrest, AND you can serve your "probation" in any state you choose to live.

What a total and pathetic joke this "punishment" for racketeering in this scheme is to me. Next time, let's save taxpayer money and just say at the onset:

HEY, SINCE THE "PUNISHMENT" FOR WHITE COLLAR CRIME IS NOTHING, FORGET THE TRIAL, PLEAD GUILTY, NO PUNISHMENT, AND THAT'S IT! (Because that's it is anyway.)

[summer]

I meant to type: (Because that's it anyway.)

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[summer]

FYI. The Fastows must be watching this case and thinking: "Hey, why should we serve ANY jail time?"

[summer]

FYI. An outrage.

[PoisedWoman]

the Rev. David Mallory's Campus of Care for the homeless in East Naples.

What the heck is this? When I left Naples in '88, there wasn't a single homeless person in town. Now they're inviting them in? What's happened to the crime rate? I seriously want to know as one of my New Years resolutions is to get down to Naples and decide whether I want to move back.

As for rich retired racketeers, Naples has always had its share but I think most get tossed in jail. And when I was there, a son of the Benson family of Benson & Hedges was convicted of murdering the rest of his family by blowing up their car in the driveway so he could be the sole heir. Nice people.

[scouse]

Senior Circuit Judge Stephen Dakan

??????Is he a holdover from the Childs' era????

[Liz]

.....Rasmussen and his attorney, Jerry Berry, painted Rasmussen as a victim........ "These charges have been devastating.........wherever he goes, they follow him," Berry said, adding that Rasmussen used to be booked as a public speaker but now cannot get work......speaking engagements were canceled after the charges were filed. "The punishment is huge," Berry said.......

(Sniffle), Gosh, he's a "victim." Who woulda guessed? I'm all broken up about it (sob.)

[summer]

a son of the Benson family of Benson & Hedges was convicted of murdering the rest of his family by blowing up their car in the driveway so he could be the sole heir. Nice people.

That was awhile ago, but I remember that as well. This has become a very fast growing area, and where you probably remember four dirt roads crossing, there are now 12-lane intersections.

As for homeless people, yes, they are here too, now. But, I must admit, you never see them around. You'd actually have to go out somewhere like the place mentioned to see them.

There is also no shortage of tough sentences for some crimes. But these white collar criminals - well, a slap on the wrist seems to be it. Truly, an outrage -- especially when one considers how much this legal matter has cost taxpayers for 6 years now. If nothing is going to be the punishment, then get it over with sooner than 6 years and at least save people some money.

[summer]

RE your post #8 - Yeah, I laughed at that.

[summer]

This also struck me as amusing:

Rasmussen, who Von Zamft [the prosecutor] said is broke, was not fined.

So, as long as you tell the courts you have no money, then, the court says: "Oh, we understand perfectly; so, no fine for you." Is that the new system for all criminal defendants?

Also, for someone who is allegedly "broke" - I notice he did not opt for a public defender. Instead, he hired a private lawyer, who I believe has been publicly described by others as the most expensive attorney in town.

On top of that, the "broke" defendent -- who can somehow still afford an expensive attorney -- is relocating to New Jersey, a state with much higher taxes than Florida.

Hmmm. Yeah. "Broke." Sure.

[summer]

I don't know, but that judge made a joke out of this whole matter. Instead of handing down a tough sentence to discourage public corruption and racketeering, this judge is encouraging others to try it. (Just don't get caught, and if you do, don't worry. "Probabtion" is now the penalty for rackenteering.)

[summer]

I don't know, but that judge made a joke out of this whole matter. Instead of handing down a tough sentence to discourage public corruption and racketeering, this judge is encouraging others to try it. (Just don't get caught, and if you do, don't worry. "Probation" is now the penalty for rackenteering.)

[summer]

I don't know, but that judge made a joke out of this whole matter. Instead of handing down a tough sentence to discourage public corruption and racketeering, this judge is encouraging others to try it. (Just don't get caught, and if you do, don't worry. "Probation" is now the penalty for racketeering.)

[summer]

Sorry for the triple post there.

[summer]

FYI.

[summer]

FYI.

[AAABEST]

Hey you! Haven't seen you, hope all is well.

[PoisedWoman]

Actually I don't remember any dirt roads at all, just shiny wall-to-wall gated golf-course communities and that wonderful beach. And a rich broker-financial planner who'd been prosecuted for fraud and as I recall sent up up up the river. No slap on the wrist for him. He must have lost money/stolen from the Port Royal crowd. I went and looked at his "treasures" that were being auctioned off to help pay his debts and they were like Saddam's.....cheesy apcray!

Oh yes, I'd looked at a house for sale that had a bathroom jacuzzi tub with three mink-covered steps leading up to it....LOL. I guess some mafia types lived down there at the time, and reputedly "kept to themselves and kept the town safe."

I'm trying to remember why I want to move back.

[summer]

LOL...well, believe me, there were once dirt roads. And, in fact, once upon a time, the whole town was just a fishing village. And that's it. :)