I am pissed Re: Manafort (I am a former Federal Inmate)

[gopiscrap]

Last edited Fri Mar 8, 2019, 11:30 PM - Edit history (4)

twenty three years ago I got cancer for the second time. The first time I had it, I was insured. At that time, companies could drop you for pre-existing conditions. I was dropped after my first bout. The second time I had cancer, because of the huge cost and burden of having cancer, I kept on filing for bankruptcy, because that automatically stops all collections and garnishments and has the creditor if it is an ongoing bill forced to continue to treat you. Because I broke the rules on the amount of filings you could have, I was ordered by the Federal Court to stop filing. If I did that the world would have come crashing down on me both financially and physically. Because I kept on filing,I was charged with and pled guilty to contempt of Federal Court and Bankruptcy abuse and I received an 18 month federal sentence. Of which I did 13 months and another 2 months in a half way house.

I am not proud of what I did, but it saved me financially and physically. Through the court process, I was able to negotiate 158K of a 168K bill away.

The Manafort sentence pisses me off, because I feel what he did was way worse than I. I was sentenced with in the guidelines, unlike him.

While I am not complaining about the 18 months I got, I am complaining bitterly at the mere 47 months he received.

Seems to me you either pay with time or money. It is my understanding that Manafort has given up a bunch of assets.

Fuck Judge Ellis and fuck the justice system

[FM123]

1. Yes, what he did was much much much worse and he should have gotten 47 years not 47 months!

[gopiscrap]

2. I totally agree

[Ilsa]

3. I don't blame you for being angry.

You were trying to save yourself. Manafort wanted to cheat the entire US. Manafort should have received a much higher sentence.

BTW, it doesn't matter, I guess, but I don't understand "...467 months I received."

[gopiscrap]

4. OMG I was spacing, talking to some one while typing

that should read 18 months received. I fixed it... thank you

[canetoad]

5. Thanks for your story

I suspect many of us here on DU have a story of being fucked over by corporations, banks, insurance companies, powers that be....

I lost a house in the mid-90s because I couldn't pay the mortgage. I couldn't pay because the man I worked for didn't pay me and others. We won a class-action against him but no way to recover lost wages. I've never recovered and still rent my accommodation.

The Manafort sentence pisses me off too. There's one rule for the ordinary battlers, another for the obscenely rich and corrupt.

[KPN]

6. I hope many others hear your story. End the injustices!

[CaptainTruth]

7. Your story is making me cry...

It reminds me how often our justice system fails to deliver justice.

[SunSeeker]

8. Your experience proves we still have Poor Houses in this country.

Except now we put the poor in the penitentiary.

[BigmanPigman]

9. Well stated!

[BigmanPigman]

10. From your experience, will the guys in Manafort's prison,

the other prisoners I mean, be pissed off at Manafort's sentence like we are? Will he get the justice he deserves from them as opposed to the inappropriately light sentence from that asinine GOP Judge Ellis?

[gopiscrap]

11. yes, I think lots of them will be pissed because what they did was peanuts compared to Manafort

I was given a lot of deference because many thought it was bullshit what happened to me and also because I am fairly smart and helped many of them with the GED's and written legal work. He may have to spend that time in protective custody.

[BigmanPigman]

13. Thanks, that makes me feel better.

[ooky]

14. I agree with them that it was bullshit what happened to you. Its sickening.

Its hard to even imagine such lack of compassion in our legal system for people struggling to pay the costs of a chronic illness.

[SunSeeker]

15. Yep. He's spent the last 9 months in protective custody.

His lawyers milked it for sympathy, calling it "solitary confinement." But he was placed in protective custody for his own protection and at his own request.

[FBaggins]

30. That was in the Alexandria detention facility

Not many hardened violent criminals in minimum/low security federal facilities.

[SunSeeker]

32. And yet he still wanted isolation. nt

[Chin music]

34. W a phone and laptop and a second "work room".

Knowing the corrections officers that I do, I'm sure they made EVERY accommodation for him bc he was a trumper. Extra security taking a shower etc. May we all get the same treatment, when all dems are rounded up like WW2 Jews, and slapped in a prison camp in Idaho or whatever.

[forgotmylogin]

18. "Other prisoners" - remember, he's going to cushy white-collar prison.

I'm sure it will be like a restrictive, spartan college dorm life, but I seriously doubt Manafort will be negotiating gangs and cliques of hard-timers in the prison yard.

[gopiscrap]

21. no he won't be, but there still is a rough sense of justice in prison

and Manafort seems to be the snobby type and that won't go over well at all.

[NBachers]

12. I lived in Miami in the mid -80's & got caught up in Miami-related activities. Received 84 months in

Fed joints. No guns, no violence involved. Except for the overkill when the DEA swarmed in on me.

The "star" inmates at my time were Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken. They were looked upon with curiosity and a certain amount of disdain by most inmates. They were acknowledged, but mostly left alone. Both had their small group, with similar crimes, or acolytes. Neither of them, that I know of, were directly threatened or challenged.

All inmates in Fed joints have jobs in the institution. Boesky's included custodial work in the visitor center. Since he grew his hair and beard out during his time, he became a bit unkempt and bummy looking. So the inmates and their families & guests were treated to the sight of Ivan Boesky sweeping floors and emptying trash in the visitor center.

I'm the only person you'll ever meet who can honestly say that he's showered with Ivan Boesky.

Edited to agree- it's surprising, and tragic, to see the amount of illiteracy in the joint. It's possible to generate a lot of good will by helping with writing, classwork, studying, and legal work. There are also a lot of non-English speakers inside. They also deserve whatever help they can be given. While down, I read Gordon Liddy's book, "Will." He wrote about this when he described his prison experiences.

If Manafort ends up in a high-security penitentiary, gopiscrap is right- he may be segregated for his own safety.

[gopiscrap]

22. that's what I did. I helped a lot of GED folks and those working on their cases

My job was to be the librarian for the religious library and I also directed a Roman Catholic prison choir that became the model for other institutions nationwide

[Kind of Blue]

39. Yeah, my brother spoke of the illiteracy while in the joint.

And, indeed, he generated a lot of goodwill helping other men - especially young men. It's what saved him there. We chuckle now because the young men naturally called him Uncle. "Uncle, can you help me with this?" "Uncle, tell me what this means." He suffers PTSD from police brutality and false incarceration but it was his education that saved him and he continues his crusade helping all of those who've asked him to remember them. It's what's saving him still.

[NBachers]

40. That's why I have respect for Chuck Colson of Watergate Fame. He didn't forget, he came back.

[Kind of Blue]

41. I had no idea about Colson. Had to look him up

and found his Prison Fellowship. Good number of videos and for anyone interested especially in advocacy, whatever form it takes https://www.prisonfellowship.org/about/chuckcolson/

Thanks, NBachers

[area51]

16. This nation is so barbaric

that healthcare isn't a human right. New single-payer/comprehensive Medicare for All bill.

[gopiscrap]

28. I totally agree

I have been fighting for Single Payer for many years. I grew up in Germany and it worked wonderfully/

[forgotmylogin]

17. Manafort is no Jean Valjean.

He didn't steal bread to feed his family, he stole money to buy ostrich-leather coats, but unfortunately Repubs don't seem to understand the difference between Les Miserables and The Miserable Administration.

[dalton99a]

19. +1

[erronis]

36. +1 also. This flies past the repuglicons who think Hamilton is just a face on a lowly $10

They like to deal with the Benjamins ($100) but like their mobster ilk from prior days, the Grover Cleveland ($1000) was good to stash in suitcases.

[Stuart G]

20. k and r no text.

[PatSeg]

23. The sentence Manafort got was outrageous,

but it is also outrageous that you got sent to prison because you were sick and could not afford the medical costs. "Greatest country on earth"? Maybe in an alternate universe.

I am so sorry for what you had to go through.

[Karadeniz]

24. I admire you ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Thank you for helping others.

[gopiscrap]

25. thanks you're very kind

[MaryMagdaline]

26. Thank you for posting this

Prison is inhumane and I hope you have recovered physically and emotionally.

Manafort is the essence of evil. I just can’t believe a judge would find any redeeming value in that person

[gopiscrap]

27. I have recovered...thank you

[malaise]

29. You have every right to be pissed

[unblock]

31. I didn't know filing too often could land you in prison

I would have thought that if a bankruptcy filing was improper for whatever reason (not enough time since the last one, for example) they would simply deny it.

In any case, we supposedly rejected the idea of debtor's prison, but it seems it's still around after all.

Well, hope you stay in good health....

[gopiscrap]

33. it was because I kept on filingf after the court ordered me not to

my calculus was a) obey the court and not get the treatment I need AND lose everything financially or b) disobey the court and go to jail eventually but still make it through the illness

[Boomerproud]

35. You are the very definition of a survivor.

Your story needs to be heard, especially by Magats.

[AllaN01Bear]

37. justice is only for the rich.

[Kind of Blue]

38. I'm so glad that you're unafraid to tell your awful story.

But, man, you're one strong person and an inspiration on many levels.

[gopiscrap]

42. thank you, you are very kind

[duforsure]

43. We've witnessed a president being installed by a corrupt russian leader,

And a political party becoming corrupted and compromised now too. Are we seeing now our judicial system being corrupted by him and trump now too? Acosta, now Ellis? I think it'll all be exposed eventually to show it. Its up to the American people to vote all these corrupt gop people , especially trump , out of office , and prevent Mitch and trump's stacking the courts for self protection. This is what happened in russia under Putin too.