San Ramon, CA
Quoted from jamesmc:"...99.6% conviction rate. Anyone that says that got a great attorney or any other story doesn't realize how the federal system works. "
Well said. I had a roommate in college that later in life started an investment fund. The fund was doing well until the economic downturn in 2008. Unfortunately, my friend made a bad choice, and instead of allowing the investors to feel the loss, he took in new money and paid the previous investors that cash as "returns on investment". He had some investments in start-ups he thought would pan out, just needed some time. The feds caught on, and shut the fund down.
The damage was around $30 million, and my friend tried to argue the investments were gaining back the ground they lost. The judge was harsh, and gave him 12 years. In the federal system, which Robert's case will land in (as evidenced by the "fraud across State lines" charges) over 10 years on your sentence means you go to a medium-security federal penitentiary. Not "Club Fed". Medium security is a bad place to be. Robert's offense is significant, and the Feds are not going to lie down on this one. The Feds aren't necessarily slow on the trial dates, either. Something bad has happened here, and they want a conviction. I'd wager he's going to do hard time, for a long time. And the trial will be over within the next 2 years.
My friend did about 2 years, and one of his investments the fund still held hit the jackpot, making all his investors whole. He applied for a new trial, and since restitution was provided, they let him out for time served. A lucky break, which Robert does not have access to, since there are no actual investments.
