@jackl said:

Wiseguys get community service and probation and you got the book thrown at you for a penny ante drug offense, and others (i.e., the bankers and economists "featured" in "Inside Job" skate entirely

Exactly. In my opinion all federal sentencing guidelines are far too strict and inordinately focused on retribution as opposed to rehabilitation. But if they're gonna throw the book at anyone why not crooks like this who demonstrate dispicable greed and utter contempt for the legal system. Seems like splitting hairs to say these guys didn't steal. They illegally cornered the market, set their own obscene prices and pocketed the margin. It's no different from what Enron did IMO. Not saying the deserved the max, but they certainly didn't deserve leniency.