this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2023
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I'm not too familiar with the USA criminal justice system but is it normal for somebody to not be expected to spend any time in prison after illegally owning a gun and failing to pay a million bucks in taxes? Over here illegally owning a gun would be a serious crime in itself, though you'd probably only face real consequences for tax evasion if you're poor - rich/powerful people stealing from the government is apparently all good!
To be clear, the gun charge is actually a drug charge: it's illegal to own a firearm if you ever use an illegal drug, which was a racist law (1968 Gun Control Act) put in place as a way to go after groups like the Black Panthers, as well as anti-war groups during Vietnam.
Without them knowing that he had used drugs, it would not have been illegal for him to possess the gun.
In fact, a federal judge just ruled that that particular prohibition is unconstitutional on the grounds that there was no 'historical precedent' for it, which is the new test under Bruen.
Wild, thanks for the context! Seems like the kind of thing that should be more widely included alongside the reporting on his charges/pleading IMO.
Really should just put him in jail for a year for the gun, another for the taxes, and have him pay 1.2 times the amount owed.
The time and fine could be increased, I'm not picky but the idea that anyone could walk for crimes someone else would be in prison for is gross.
People love to try to cheat on their taxes in the US. Hell, Trump basically bragged about it on the debate stage while running for President.
All in all, what he did was consider a misdemeanor since he paid it back once he got called out.