Can't find the exact references among the SI/GIFS, PR and Waaco files, but I remember reading the criminal charge was conspiracy related to loans and other financing. He was 19 years old and part of a group of Hollywood types masterminding (or fumbling) through it. He served 5-1/2 years, and started a new life.
In trying to put this into perspective for myself, I read over some notes of a similar situation I had to investigate a few years ago as an editors of a newsletter (and correspondingly, for several clients thinking of using the services of the company in question). A previous entity doing essentially the same thing was brought down by the a combination of local and state prosecutors in Florida. What started as a cash flow problem turned into fraud when the father, son and a couple others got desperate (I'm trying to be kind here.) Even though the father and others were the primary controllers of the scheme, the son, who was 18 at the time, was charged with conspiracy. Only the father's last minute (literally, 5 minutes before the sentencing hearing) acceptance of an offer to recommend probation kept his son out of jail. The father and the other two got 7-1/2 years, served four, and the son got 3 years probation. (I'm told by one of the prosecutors that the judge did not want to accept the sentencing recommendation on the son.)
Whether Mohammed knew or full appreciated what was going when he was 19 (how many 19 year olds really do), he did take responsibility for his white collar actions, served his time, and moved on with his life. Apparently, he didn't have anyone willing to help him out in the bargain.
And the adventure continues... |
