From the Lexington, KY Herald-Leader:
Eric C. Conn, who fled the country to avoid prison after committing fraud on a grand scale in his legal practice, pleaded guilty Monday in a deal that will keep him behind bars for up to 27 years. ...
Conn, wearing a green jail jumpsuit, handcuffs and a leg chain, walked slowly into the courtroom.
It appears being behind bars has drained Conn ...
Conn’s hair appeared more gray than when the FBI brought him back to Kentucky in December, and there was no energy in his voice as he answered Reeves’ questions, unlike his firm tone in prior appearances.
Conn — 57 by his account, but listed as 58 by the government — fidgeted and appeared to shake during the hearing, and seemed to wince at times.
Reeves asked him at one point if he was in distress, and Conn said he was in pain but was okay to continue.
Conn didn’t describe the source of his pain, but told Reeves he takes anti-anxiety medication. His plea mentions that he might ask to serve his sentence at a medical facility. ...
Oh, you need to serve your sentence at a medical facility? Let's just ask Dr. Psych CE if he thinks that's necessary...
ReplyDeleteI hate to be cynical, but I would wager he's just trying to avoid going into general population at the type of federal facility someone with his convictions/time would normally go. Can't blame him, our federal prison system is worse than the Soviet Gulags in pretty much every measurable you can think of.
ReplyDeleteThere is a down side to being a risk taker and Mr. Conn is now experiencing that downside. He could have been a successful honest disability lawyer but he decided to roll the dice and go for the big money by being dishonest. He could have lived up to his original plea deal with the hope of getting out of prison at age 70 with some life expectancy left. Instead, he may die in prison.
ReplyDeleteIn "Kompenso," the 11th episode of Season 3 in "Billions" on Showtime, there's some very well-delivered lines by actor Paul Giamatti playing U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He's elucidates on the phrase, "don't make a federal case out of it," and proceeds to tell another character with horrifying clarity exactly what happens to a defendant when a federal case IS made out of it.
ReplyDeleteFunny but he was probably close to being physically and mentally disabled. But you can't get SSD/SSI in prison. Sigh.
ReplyDelete1:04pm is right on. Despite the white collar conviction, his absconding makes him an escape risk so the Bureau of Prisons is more likely to send him to a higher security institution. He should also be concerned about other inmates that may be related to his victims/clients especially in a more secure facility.
ReplyDeletePeople like this? I would think it is more about self destructive behavior, the rush of not gettng caught, and ultimately getting relief by being caught. They are often more then intelligent enough to know they will almost certainly be toast and keep pushing it.
ReplyDelete