To catch a thief

You know, I watched an episode of The Investigators on CourtTV (soon to be TruTV, ugh!) the other day about the Polka King of Philadelphia who swindled a bunch of people out of a crapload of money not so long ago. This guy had a scam where he promised 12% interest on investments in his souvenir shop and polka empire. The program started like one of those fake Behind the Music episodes that all the sketch comedy programs did back when BtM was the shite, like they were totally making fun of polka and polka aficionados. Then somebody cheated so that the Polka King’s wife could when the Mrs. Pennsylvania pageant and the PK’s luck ran out. Everybody wanted to get their money, but he didn’t have it and lawsuits were being threatened. Then, just like in Behind the Music, tragedy struck when the polka band’s bus crashed and burned, killing two and badly injuring the PK’s son. PK thought he’d have an out by saying he had all his “papers” on the bus, but folks weren’t buying it and the lawsuits came and an along came the feds. Soon, the PK was arrested for the swindling and found guilty in Delaware where he was sentenced to 5 years in prison, 3 of which had to be served in a regular old maximum security prison with all the rest of the criminals. Well, since he was just a little old white collar criminal, he didn’t fare too well in with the hardened mooks. A rumour got started that he was in for rape or molestation, so his cellmate decided to issue a little prison justice and slit the PK’s throat and stabbed him a few times for good measure. He was saved, but had to endured several surgeries and lost part of his hearing along his faith in the justice system. When the show asked some of his victims how they felt about what had happened to him, I was a bit surprised at the number of people who said, “[PK’s assailant] didn’t cut deep enough” or “He should have killed him”. I remind you, the guy took their money, not their daughter or only son or grandchild…MONEY. Meanwhile, the Delaware D.A. lady didn’t seem to want to say whether she really felt maximum security prison was the appropriate sentence in light of all that had happened. This, despite an earlier news clip which showed her proclaiming the fairness of the sentence since he didn’t deserve to go to a “Club Fed”.

I bring all this up because this slimeball just got sentenced to 6 ½ years in prison. Now assuming he actually does any real time, you just know he won’t be breaking any rocks anywhere anytime soon. I guess part of me kinda feels like there shouldn’t be any big distinction between “white collar’ embezzlement and blue collar (?) robbery and these guys should have to do hard time just like any other thief. As they say, can’t do the time then don’t do the crime. That sort of separation is what makes these guys think what they are doing isn’t really hurting anyone, that they are above everyone else and certainly not in the same league as some street scum who robs the SuperAmerica for cash. I mean, why don’t the cops and the feds focus on some REAL criminals? Maybe fewer people would bilk victims out of their funds if they knew they might have to spend 2 or 3 years bunking with a guy who makes Charles Manson seem like a nice young man.

Another part of me though feels like putting the Polka King in with violent felons was a bit harsh. Perhaps I only feel that way because of what actually happened to him and I know I only feel like that because his crime was non-violent (and because I found some of his victims a little tough to sympathize with, but I’m kinda cold to those who are stupid in their greed). I mean, I can’t say I felt exactly bad when that inmate bashed in Dahmer’s crazy head because one of Dahmer’s victims was a 14-year-old boy and well, it was Jeffrey Dahmer who came off as pretty nonchalant about his deeds in interviews. And then there was that pedophile priest who was killed by an inmate. So he was old and frail and faced with younger, meaner inmates. Yeah, those kids he diddled were pretty young and defenseless too. The tears, they did not come to me after reading that story. I don’t know. It just seems kinda cruel, but I think my emotions got played on by the polka.