Manafort Sentence Irks Lawyers of Petty Criminals Serving Harsher Prison Terms
“Saw a kid get 15 years today for stealing lawnmowers,” one lawyer wrote.
Handout/Reuters
At his sentencing hearing on Thursday, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded with Judge TS Ellis to show some compassion. And with a sentence of just 47 months in prison for hiding and evading taxes on millions, it appears the judge heeded his call—maybe even a bit too much, according to the many lawyers who took to Twitter to vent about what they described as a slap on the wrist. Ahead of the sentencing, Manafort was facing a sentence of 19 to 24 years, in accordance with sentencing guidelines for fraud. Several attorneys were left scratching their heads as they wondered aloud on Twitter why their clients, who were convicted of equal or lesser crimes, wound up serving harder time.
For context on Manafort’s 47 months in prison, my client yesterday was offered 36-72 months in prison for stealing $100 worth of quarters from a residential laundry room.
— Scott Hechinger (@ScottHech) March 8, 2019
I now rep a 35 y/o charged w arson. Severely intoxicated. Severe cognitive delays. Fortunately no one injured. Minimal damage. Rikers for last year pretrial. Current offer is 10 years longer than Manafort: 14 yrs prison.
— Scott Hechinger (@ScottHech) March 8, 2019
I represented a client in the EDVA who got 60yrs following a fraud trial. His crimes were nothing compared to Manafort. I got the 4th Cir to throw out half the case on a Santos issue & remand for resentencing. You know what the judge gave him: 60yrs, again.
— Jimmy Ardoin (@jimmyardoin) March 8, 2019
A federal judge defying the sentencing guidelines on the grounds they are “excessive” is a luxury I wish my former PD clients received. I’m sure this judge does this for indigent federal defendants too and didn’t just do this for a wealthy convicted felon like Paul Manafort.
— Neil W. Blackmon (@nwblackmon) March 8, 2019
As a public defender in a right wing area of a right wing state, I am disgusted. Saw a kid get 15 years today for stealing lawnmowers and equipment worth less than $50K
— fabuKat (@katwitdown) March 8, 2019
The chasm in our dual justice system is an infinite divide.
I had a client sentenced to 9 months in jail for a $9.58 retail theft. So by my calculations, Manafort’s sentence should have been roughly 46,000,000 months?
— K Tee Ell (@KTeeEll) March 8, 2019
The prosecutor in Paul Manafort's case recommended a 19 to 25 year prison sentence.
— Rebecca J. Kavanagh (@DrRJKavanagh) March 8, 2019
Judge Ellis just sentenced him to under 4 years.
Judges almost never sentence my clients to less prison time than prosecutors recommend.
Compassion is a quality shown only to some.
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