The investigation really didn’t start until 2010, and I think the first indictments were in 2013. They are not playing around, but actually convicting people and sending them to jail. A former Dept Head of mine has been in prison for over three years and has a few to go. No pension for him...
I am sorry for your friend. I’ve never been in prison, but would hate to be locked up, certainly for that long.
Out of the loop of daily life and social events.
Maybe his attorneys feel there is no way to prevent this purgatory of an existence. Perhaps mistakes were indeed made.