Air America Watch: Air America Larceny Plea Deals Do NOT Include Jail Time

New York Post: OUTRAGE AT CHARITY’S CROOKED WISE GUYS

News that two former executives who admitted plundering the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club won’t be spending even one day in jail was greeted by outrage yesterday at the Bronx non-profit and by residents of the community.

“That’s a sore spot for me,” said Frederick Lewis, the group’s new leader.

“People go to jail for much less than that,” fumed Lewis. “These people took advantage of the city and state. We have to let them know you don’t get away with this . . . It’s a disgrace.”

Parents with kids in Gloria Wise’s Co-op City day care center were also up in arms.

“I work so hard and I can barely make tuition,” said doorman Vernon Rainford, 41, who has a 3-year-old at Gloria Wise.

“To hear people stealing without punishment, that’s just not right.”

Of course, it is not right. But, what do you expect from a LEFTY Attorney General who aspires to be Governor of New York?

The New York Post has it RIGHT with this editorial: WISE GUYS GET A PASS

Six officials of the Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club stole $1.2 million from the group, money meant for needy kids and seniors, a city probe has found. Investigations Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn calls it “disgusting” – the worst case of wrongdoing by a non-profit contractor she’s seen since taking office.

Thank goodness the thieves will be going to jail for a very long time – and paying back every cent, and then some.

Well, actually, that’s not quite true.

In fact, nobody is going to jail.

Not even for a single day.

And the crooks get to keep most of the cash they stole. Four weren’t even charged, and after a few brief years, the two who were charged can return to nonprofit work – to loot again, perhaps.

For that wrist tap, thank Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, whose office prosecuted the case.

Something is wrong with this picture.

Hearn was right to label the shenanigans “disgusting.” Her report said fraud “was an accepted way of doing business” for these execs. “Rather than reflecting actual events,” the group’s records “were made to say whatever suited the executives’ purposes.” Want details?

* Under their direction, the group improperly gave $875,000 to left-wing Air America radio (which features comedian Al Franken) while a Gloria Wise exec maintained a financial stake in it.

* Officials “improperly obtained more than $290,000 in income that was untaxed, on top of already generous salaries – and much of it stolen from government agencies.”

* They used the money to buy themselves cars (two BMWs and a Volvo), fix up their homes and pay for tennis expenses, parking and personal insurance, among other things.

* Most alarming was their falsification of student medical records to fool the Health Department into thinking the kids had gotten vaccines and medical exams.