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.