There is a strong precedent in the U.S. for aiming for the top end of the sentencing guidelines in cases of psychological cruelty. That cruelty might not be a

There is a strong precedent in the U.S. for aiming for the top end of the sentencing guidelines in cases of psychological cruelty. That cruelty might not be a crime on its own (sometimes it is) but the logic is that deeply antisocial criminals should be kept away from society for longer. Or they need more time for rehab, or they should just be punished more harshly. Whichever explanation you accept. Also, extortion has never been a minor crime. A long history of psychologically cruel extortion? It's hard to have sympathy for people who flaunt their own lack of it.