Here we go again.
On his way out the door, President Joe Biden thought it was somehow a good idea to grant clemency to Sioux Falls Fish Farm salesman Toby Ritesman who deceived investors and robbed them of more than a million dollars:
Tobias Ritesman, who called himself “The Tiger,” will get a reprieve on his nine-year prison sentence starting Dec. 22 — in time for Christmas. Ritesman was among 1,500 people whom the Biden administration granted clemency to as the one-term president prepares to depart office. It was the largest number of pardons and clemency granted in one day by a president.
and..
The mass clemency only applied to prison sentences and left in place the other sentencing conditions. For Ritesman, 48, that includes three years of parole and restitution of $680,000.
It could have been worse, as at least restitution was left in place. Unlike the pardon granted to Paul Erickson in 2021 by President Trump during his last term, who also bilked investors out of millions.
Experts say a South Dakota criminal no longer has to pay his victims nearly $3 million in restitution after President Trump pardoned him and labeled his crimes “minor.”
and..
Erickson was not prosecuted for the assistance he allegedly provided to Butina. Instead, in a separate case, authorities accused him of defrauding dozens of people in numerous business schemes. His pattern – which he repeated multiple times over many years – was to pitch an investment opportunity to friends and acquaintances, convince them to invest, and then pocket the money rather than putting it into the investment.
To resolve those allegations, Erickson pleaded guilty in 2019 to wire fraud and money laundering. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and ordered to pay more than 50 victims a total of about $3 million in restitution.
The Erickson pardon was far more egregious, but both come off as examples of unequal justice and turn a cold eye towards victims of their swindling and schemes receiving the renumeration in terms of money and time for the perpetrator’s reflection on their crimes they were supposed to be provided by the court.
It’s almost as though neither Trump nor Biden care about the working class.
ritesman is obliged to cover his debts. he will probably make more money faster outside of a prison. we live in a high tech surveillance world today, only truly violent offenders need the separation from society a prison provides.
it’s a high number of clemency cases, but each had to make the case for clemency and be vetted. it’s not a problem.
thanks for the look back at erickson. the whole russian-spy thing probably worked in his favor.
So you don’t believe in incarceration unless someone is physically violent? So if I steal all your money and destroy your life and the life of your family and destroy the lives of hundreds of families, its ok! I don’t need jail, keep me free so I can “make the money back” Are you for real?
Yep, that’s enquirer. On the wrong side of an issue…again.
fine. then trump’s an idiot and erickson should be re- arrested. you always try to have it both ways and lie to do it. kudos.
You have yet to state what the lie was…oh that’s right, you can’t because I didn’t.
Uh, I actually told the judge this exact thing when I was robbed. I preferred some sort of work release or in house arrest with strict conditions so he could work and I could get restitution. There are obviously cases where incarceration is warranted but in some, making them work and be poor is a pretty good punishment for theft.
I agree with this. Making someone work only to have to turn it over to the victim is an apt punishment.
They can be on work release while serving their sentence and serving their victim
we’re on the topic of clemency for those already convicted.
I would rather see non-violent offenders working to pay restitution and performing community service than pay the $33,000/year to keep them in prison.
ICYMI, the state could send them to SDSU or USD for less.
A criminal shouldn’t be incarcerated unless they are violent? WOW, just wow.
Can’t wait to see how you spend this bonehead comment.
Spend = spin
I believe the pardons were all related to prison sentences of individuals who were moved to house arrest during the pandemic. Not a fan of this, but it is added clarity. Trump and Biden continue the pardon abuse. Dems have tried in the past to remove pardon abilities with no help or luck.
The pardons were all related to prison sentences of individuals who were moved to house arrest during the pandemic. Not a fan of this, but it is added clarity. Trump and Biden continue the pardon abuse. Dems have tried in the past to remove pardon abilities with no help or luck.
couldn’t agree with you more…