Usually, when I read a story about a case that is either extremely harsh or extremely light in the sentencing the first thing I ask is "is the defendant white?"

Usually, when I read a story about a case that is either extremely harsh or extremely light in the sentencing the first thing I ask is "is the defendant white?" Was not surprised. Now for those that think it's not harsh because a) smuggling b) not first time. These aren't elephant or rhino tusks and the species of turtles he was caught with aren't threatened or endangered. He's basically spending 5 years in jail for not having the right permits. You know the same permits that everyone is so fond of Uber and Airbnb for "disrupting". He's admitted to smuggling thousands but was caught with 51. If you speed everyday they charge you with the one you were caught doing not the other 364 times you weren't caught. Finally, this is federal time. There is no parole. Hopefully he can get something reasonable on appeal. If he decides to appeal