Add Sovereign Citizens Who Have to Play by Rules HSBC Doesn’t

Remember how HSBC facilitated massive money laundering, around the globe, for over a decade, but got away with a hand slap? Remember how a single check cashing store in LA got very different treatment?

Well, add sovereign citizens to the list of Americans who don’t get the treatment HSBC got.

A man known to reject government authority as a member of the “sovereign movement” was slammed with a federal sentence Wednesday of 98 months in prison and ordered to forfeit more than $1.29 million in assets.

Shawn Rice, 50, was convicted last July on one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, 13 counts of money laundering, and four counts of failure to appear, the U.S. attorney for the district of Nevada said in a release.

Once again, after winning a harsh sentence, DOJ’s representative talked tough about the importance of prosecution.

“Persons who commit financial crimes victimize organizations, government and the public,” said U.S. attorney Daniel Bogden. “Our office and our federal partners will work jointly with local and state law enforcement to ensure that these persons are caught and prosecuted.”

If I weren’t officially on vacation, I’d check the docket on this, though for the moment I’ll accept that Rice warranted such tough treatment.

But these tough words would sure be more credible if DOJ consistently treated money launderers with this seriousness.

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4 replies
  1. gmoke says:

    The only “sovereign citizens” are corporations. I thought it was obvious, especially after the Citizens United (and made redundant) decision of the Supremes. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to discover that the Koch Bros were behind the whole concept of “sovereign citizenship” in the first place, as a stalking horse for the ultimate beneficiaries of said concept, our true and rightful owners, the corporations, may all blessings flow to and from them forever and ever amen.

  2. liberalrob says:

    I’m interested that this guy had $1.29 million in assets to forfeit. Presumably that means he has more than that. That’s not a small amount.

    But I guess his real crime was not being rich enough.

  3. Snarki, child of Loki says:

    If you steal $1M, you are in big trouble.

    If you steal $100B, the government hands you some more, to keep you from trashing the economy.

    Remember that, next time you are tempted to kite a check.

  4. thatvisionthing says:

    @liberalrob: Did the sovereign citizen print his own money? I think it’s kind of brilliant. Corpses and Wall St. get govt to print money all the time, this guy is just a mirror.

    Meanwhile, in another window:

    http://jessescrossroadscafe.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-fed-is-printing-money-but-where-is.html

    …the Fed is printing money but that money is going directly to the banks…

    Somebody should make a movie. I’m wondering if a guy doing what he did couldn’t actually do more for the real conomy than Helicopter Ben. That is, if he actually spent the money he printed and got it in the hands of real people. Wishing for Frank Capra now.

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