From a press release:
The United States recovered $200,000 as a settlement of allegations that Stephen G. Ackerman violated the federal False Claims Act by improperly accepting Social Security Disability Income payments and misleading the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) about his work activity, acting U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer announced.
Did Mr. Ackerman buy his way out of criminal charges?The Settlement Agreement resolves contentions by the United States that Mr. Ackerman failed to accurately report his work activity to SSA between January 2011 and January 2016. The United States contends that Mr. Ackerman engaged in substantial gainful activity that made him ineligible to receive his monthly disability income payments through his work on behalf of Organic Alternatives, a marijuana retail business Mr. Ackerman owns and operates. Because Mr. Ackerman was not truthful to SSA about his work activity, the United States contends that he is liable under the False Claims Act, which allows for civil penalties and treble damages. ...
He is in a wheelchair so would have been a very sympathetic defendant whether he told the truth about his work activity or not.
ReplyDeleteWell, Good for him. I'm sure he will become rich with selling MJ....even though supposedly you are not supposed to advertise organic grade MJ.....The Feds have that on lock.
ReplyDelete"Did Mr. Ackerman buy his way out of criminal charges?"
ReplyDeleteSeriously?!? When haven't you been able to buy your way out of the best criminal justice system money can buy.
9:34. understand what you are saying, but personally I would rather have him pay in $200,000 than do the time which would cost us at least $43,000 annually -- more depending on the cost of accommodating his disability in prison...
ReplyDelete12:43 So let them eat cake?
ReplyDelete