A Capitol One customer with a history of threatening corporations that he felt had “wronged” him is facing up to five years in federal prison after he allegedly vowed to assassinate company executives using a machete and gasoline to accomplish his plot, according to media reports.
Getting 5 years in federal prison over a $543 fine is impressive stupidity.
It’s the posting mentality. I bet if you go through this person’s social media history, they’ve said a lot worse with neglible consequences.
But giving someone five years for being a blowhard when people who do real material harm (the average white collar criminal conviction for embezzlement/fraud/inside trading is 2 years) get far less really illustrates who the courts are working for.
He won’t serve those 5 years. Its an inital punishment that serves to dissuade others but will be reduced once the media attention blows over.
He might not. He might serve longer. He might die in one of those shitty Texas prisons that get up to 100 degrees with no air conditioning. Who can say?
But I agree this kind of sentencing is primarily a form of state sanctioned shock doctrine. Terrorism on a judicial scale.
I’m kind of happy he was sentenced because I’m sick of people leaving unhinged comments and walking away thinking it’s normal.
The US doesn’t have a shortage of unhinged people, in large part because the insurance system is such high stakes anxiety inducing industry to work with.
I doubt legalist terrorism stacked on top of bureaucratic negligence will make anyone any saner.