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Periodically OpenCdA puts up a link to synopses of recent public corruption cases successfully prosecuted by the federal government.
Here is a link to a few successful federal prosecutions thus far in fiscal year 2015 investigated primarily by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Following are the headlines of those cases included.
** Former Consultant to New York Democratic Senate Campaign Committee Sentenced For Tax and Fraud Conspiracy
** Former Florida County Employee Sentenced for Tax Evasion
** Former Executive Director of Affordable Housing Organization Sentenced for Conspiracy to Steal Federal Funds
The link provides some of the details of the prosecutions, and it also includes links to a sample of successful IRS public corruption investigations from fiscal years 2014 and 2013.
Our purpose is to encourage readers to look at these cases from throughout the United States to better understand the range of crimes amounting to public corruption. Please look, too, at the range of positions of public trust occupied by those subsequently convicted of corruption.
Other federal agencies such as the FBI investigate different forms of public corruption. According to FBI Director James Comey:
Public corruption is the FBI’s top criminal priority. The threat—which involves the corruption of local, state, and federally elected, appointed, or contracted officials—strikes at the heart of government, eroding public confidence and undermining the strength of our democracy. It impacts how well U.S. borders are secured and neighborhoods are protected, how verdicts are handed down in court, and how well public infrastructure such as schools and roads are built.
Another focus concerns election crime. Although individual states have primary responsibility for conducting fair and impartial elections, the FBI becomes involved when paramount federal interests are affected or electoral abuse occurs.
Corruption occurs more easily where citizens and the local news media are willing to turn a blind eye to it and where local prosecutors and investigators lack the manpower, skill, or political will to investigate and prosecute. Corruption does not wave a red flag; it must be sought by people willing to see it rather than overlooked by people desiring to ignore it.
It really is pretty disgusting. It just floors me that these types of people with generous paying jobs have to embezzle and steal. I just don’t get it. I also don’t think it is about “manpower, skill, or political will to investigate and prosecute.”
Our justice system and the dreaded IRS along with huge financial government and private endeavors are all about favors, not to mention those ambitious career cases that are published. That is the only time I think ‘they’ really work for any particular reason.
Occasionally, a big case can get blown by an accidental find, but it is quickly remedied with smokescreens and/or a media circus.
I think another term is “dirty.” Everyone is subject to corruption, it is how it works. One favors leads to another, seemingly innocent and before anyone knows it, they are caught in a muck of crap that leads to a lake of manure that one can drown in. Our media is a huge player of special favors. Very few people understand corruption because they do not recognize it and they lack moral reasoning. Some of us get sucked in or used and feel like real schmucks when they figure it out. Some people see it, but they are those who were lucky and got out before it was too late, but not without a price and now most likely work like dogs, so busy that they have to concentrate on keeping a roof over their heads, reminding themselves every day that the life they chose is because they chose those fluffy words like integrity, honesty, and trust.
Corruption creates a life plagued with paranoia, anxiety, and fear when the corrupted sober up. But thankfully, they will have their next Valium, Xanax, or unprescribed fix. After all, they have to sleep at night. That is why we have prosecutors who do nothing, and lawyers who tank cases and make deals in undisclosed places, judges who make very bad if not ridiculous decisions, and lives lost for no reasons explained, other than natural causes or horrific accidents. Somebody always gets to them. Of course there is no proof, there never is, after all the little people are not capable of digging for those special favors to uncover the cover-up and they do not have access to the a wellness committee. (satire alert ;-))
Comment by Stebbijo — March 15, 2015 @ 12:58 pm
Stebbijo,
You would have made a very good intelligence case officer or counterintelligence officer. Your understanding about how people are manipulable and manipulated is very astute.
This is Sunshine Week. I was pleased to read this story in today’s Idaho Statesman. Not surprising in northern Idaho where the cleansing and disinfecting effects of informational Sunshine are foreign concepts, Coeur d’Alene Press editor Mike Patrick denigrates the very people who work diligently to use public records to improve their communities. Conversely, in southern Idaho the Idaho Statesman acknowledges the value of those citizens’ efforts.
Comment by Bill — March 15, 2015 @ 8:04 pm
Wow, that article is really informative, very resourceful way to access public documents when the agency bills out a price someone cannot afford. Definitely, in the public’s best interest. Gotta love this couple’s savvy in obtaining public records and getting the money back as well. However, don’t they have to petition a Court to reverse the charges in the name of public interest?
Comment by Stebbijo — March 16, 2015 @ 5:35 pm
Stebbijo,
Here is what Idaho Code § 9-338(10)(f) says about waiving the costs and fees:
Unfortunately, the law does not explicitly state who determines when the request meets the exemptions. That pretty much seems to leave it up to the agency’s public records custodian. Because the connective “and” was used between (ii) and (iii), it also looks as if all the exemptions must apply, not just one exemption.
Comment by Bill — March 17, 2015 @ 7:36 am