Unlike most street-crime, white collar crime is usually committed after a careful cost-benefit analysis.
The fact is, the likelihood of getting caught and the seriousness of the penalties are too remote and easy and encourage these white-collar criminals.
So, ramp it up. Increase the penalties to include the forfeiture of all personal assets and the requirement to pay restitution on a scale of five to 10 times the amount stolen.
Don’t let these criminals spend a few years in a country-club prison, secure in the knowledge that millions of dollars (probably tax-free) await their release, with the only downside being that they can no longer play the stock market.
Or keep the penalty that we like to reserve for all premeditated crimes on hand — the death penalty.
Bill Gillooly, NORTHBOROUGH, MASS.