Fla. Judge Won't Delay Prison For UBS Informant-helped launch a massive US tax evasion investigation

[The Straight Story]

Fla. Judge Won't Delay Prison For UBS Informant

MIAMI -- A federal judge refused Monday to postpone prison or consider a lighter sentence for a former Swiss banker-turned-informant who helped launch a massive U.S. tax evasion investigation into banking giant UBS AG.

The decision by U.S. District Judge William Zloch means Bradley Birkenfeld must report to prison Friday to begin a sentence of three years and four months, which is longer than what prosecutors had sought. Zloch also refused to schedule a hearing on whether to reconsider the sentence. Birkenfeld pleaded guilty last year to a fraud conspiracy charge.

Prosecutors credit Birkenfeld, 44, with exposing wrongdoing at UBS and leading investigators to thousands of suspected American tax cheaters who hid assets in the Swiss bank's accounts. But they also said Birkenfeld failed to disclose his own crimes, including his work for a California real estate magnate who pleaded guilty in 2007 to tax charges.

Prosecutors declined comment on Zloch's ruling. The Washington-based National Whistleblowers Center, whose attorneys are representing Birkenfeld, said in a statement that putting such a prominent informant in prison could "kill the goose that laid the golden eggs" by deterring others from coming forward.

http://www.clickorlando.com/money/22118069/detail.html

[icnorth]

1. That is the whole point isn't it?

To deter others from coming forward? The landed gentry are quite upset. :think:

[damntexdem]

4. Yes, this puts the kibosh on whistleblowing re banks.

Sure, they guy withheld info; but what he gave was more important -- and what he didn't give emerged anyway based on the investigation he helped spur. Maybe a slap on the hands would have been appropriate, but not a prison sentence.

[Malikshah]

2. Zloch is as corrupt as the day is long...links to Rothstein, an all around

asshole of a judge.

[brooklynite]

3. Still trying to figure how he beat out my wife for "Tax Person of the Year"

http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2010/01/tax-person-.html

[Uben]

5. Criminals should be in jail.....

...but this guy eventually did the right thing and came forward. His disclosures could make billions for the treasury! I think for his punishment, he should be levied a heavy fine, and that money should come out of any rewards he has coming for being a whistleblower. You can't punish people for coming forward. That only deters anyone from doing it. What was this judge thinking?