Heh, no case is too small. Someone I know lied to fema and was sent $2,000. He returned it three days later. Then a month later the FBI got involved and yeah, they said it was petty, but I guess they have to send the message that, even if someone looks like they are stealing that they will get charges. He learned his lesson, to never lie on the phone. He is lucky to not be rotting in prison for lying on a phone call. The US Govt, does not play around. Never mess with them or lie to anyone in govt on the phone. He was facing 15 years hard time, and luckily got probation. There is no such thing as penny-ante or de minimis. Remember the govt was not out of one red cent, still took him down hard. Never mess with the Govt, even the hint or appearance of financial inpropriety or fruad will be fully prosectued to the fullest extent possible. Be very afraid, they don't play ever. To be a prosecutor you need to have killer instincts and can never be soft, sounds like this prosecutor was a little soft, and not willing to fight harshly enough. A good prosecutor goes for the throat and is relentless and has no mercy and has no sympathy or humanity, they are in it for the hard, fast win, and so what if they bend a few rules to get thier prosecution. Didn't the person being prosecuted bend a couple rules, so its all fair in legal warfare.

Posted at April 14, 2008 11:06 PM in response to Fired U.S. Attorney: Use of FBI to Contact Jurors "Smells of Intimidation"