Quote:
Originally Posted by pwalker8
The exact quote from the article is -
"The federal Probation Department recommended no prison sentence, but Judge Cote disagreed, saying that written submissions on Ms. Rosa’s behalf included “very troubling suggestions” that the crime resulted in part because Ms. Rosa was following the American dream."
Judge Cote threw the book at Ms Rosa because she (Judge Cote) was offended by the suggestion on behalf of Ms Rosa that Ms Rosa violated the law to follow the American dream? That's a bit on the bizarre side. I actually know someone who pretty much did the same thing (shame marriage) to get into the US. When he got caught, he simply got deported. If you are going to throw the book at someone, throw it at them for something extraordinary that they did, not because you are offended by the idea that they entered the country following the American dream. I would think that most immigrants are here following the American dream.
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I would think that the book was thrown (with which I disagree, more below) not for "following the American Dream" inasmuch as
abusing that concept as part of a court submission, by someone who used that sham marriage to a) become
an elected official of her state of residence, and b)
defraud a bankruptcy court.
I think that Cote's indignation would have been lit by the idea that following the American Dream is some sort of
justification for these types of acts. Not the
fraudulent, perjurious marriage, mind you; the other acts. If that is true, we can fondly look upon Al Capone as the same as she; someone who simply wanted to follow the American Dream and leave an empire to his children.
Cote hardly "threw the book" at her; she was eligible for up to 10 YEARS in Prison, and Cote abided by the plea agreement, which stated "12-18 months." In fact, she could easily have made it the 18 months (or, mind you, abrogated the plea agreement altogether--she has that authority). She, Cote, sentenced her simply for the year--not even the 18 months. That falls, in my opinion, FAR outside the idea of "throwing the book" at her.
Frankly, for the crime of this sentence alone: "...I didn’t do none of the things that usually you are very used to seeing in the other guys that get in this situation,”
I would have sentenced her to 3 years.
Hitch