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> If found guilty of the two charges of fraud, Mr Tipton faces up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $7,500. 5 years is certainly non-trivial, but that
by vonklaus 12y ago
> If found guilty of the two charges of fraud, Mr Tipton faces up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $7,500.
5 years is certainly non-trivial, but that is the maximum sentence. If you could only serve half of the maximum sentence, 2.5 years in prison and $7,500 does not seem like a steep penalty for a $14 million fraud.
- goodcanadian 12y agoIt depends on what the probability of getting away with it is. In other words, multiply the likelihood of success by $14 million. If the result is greater than $7500 plus however you choose to value the jail time and criminal record, go for it! :)
- ianlevesque 12y agoThat penalty seems surprisingly just to me actually. Sure, the amount would've been large if he had escaped with it, but this doesn't sound like a criminal that we should lock up for many years to remove him from society. He could go on to live a long productive life even with this stupid crime in his past.
- BillTheCat 12y agoHe never successfully claimed the prize. Even if he had claimed the prize it would probably be seized by the state.