Cigars cost man 3 years in prison

[Bombardier]

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- A lawyer was sentenced Wednesday to more than three years in federal prison for smuggling thousands of fine Cuban cigars into this country and selling them for a fat profit.

Richard "Mick" Connors, 54, was also fined $60,000 and placed on three years' probation.

U.S. District Judge Ronald A. Guzman ordered Connors taken into custody immediately, despite a request that he be allowed to attend his daughter's wedding later this month. The judge said the former public defender is too familiar with ways to flee the country.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/06/09/cigar.sm...e.ap/index.html

[Umma]

As a lawyer... I'm sure he'll be havana great time in prison :psychofun:

[DudeAsInCool]

Why they arrest people for crap like this is beyond me. Ridiculous

[Umma]

Why they arrest people for crap like this is beyond me. Ridiculous

I think he's in jail because he broke the law.... and being a lawyer, he probably wasnt strapped for cash so that poverty drove him to it to make ends meet.

[DudeAsInCool]

The embargo against Cuba should have been lifted 25 years ago

[Umma]

Maybe so.... but I doubt that this character would be doing cigar runs if that was the case.

[Malicious Intent]

It is reverse psycology. Not wanting the Cubans to fall into complete poverty, the US government wants to maximise imports. There is only one good way to get everyone to buy something.

Although that doesn't explain the arrests.

[Shawn]

The embargo against Cuba should have been lifted 25 years ago

I agree.

[NullsRevenge]

It is reverse psycology. Not wanting the Cubans to fall into complete poverty, the US government wants to maximise imports. There is only one good way to get everyone to buy something.

Although that doesn't explain the arrests.

Then that wouldnt be a embargo which prohibits goods from going to and coming from a country. The only goods allowed now is humanitarian aid food/medical supplies.

The best way to get people to buy something is to offer something that people need or want which is how it all started and it occured naturally over a very very long time.

Removing the embargo i dont think would be any different, Castro would still controll how everything is distributed and would likely only use that to his advantage. And if he really cared about the people then he would have reformed his government a long time ago.

[method77]

The cubans want Castro and they can't be that stupid

and before you tell me "then why doesn't he allow elections?" I'll tell you "he does!". And there are more candidates than one (unlike Saddam). His propositioon of a socialist goverment gets more votes. it's their decision to have a "dictator" so there's nothing that you and me can say about it.

[Malicious Intent]

Perhaps I should have added a "j/k"?

I was just playing on the idea that if you ban something, then everyone wants it.

If I have to explain a joke, I know it has gone wrong!

[DudeAsInCool]

If I have to explain a joke, I know it has gone wrong!

I got it :bigsmile:

[NullsRevenge]

The cubans want Castro and they can't be that stupid

There are cubans who constantly try to float the 70 miles north into the US, that tells me otherwise. Plus there is the stories from those who have immigranted from cuba which doesnt sound like any kind of paradise to me.

[Ken]

Regardless, this is a slimy scum sucking greedy lawyer. He was all-too-happy to reap mega profits, as the article stated. It's not like he ran a fair business that was legitimate, so that his "customers" rights were protected if he were to say...cheat them. He ran an illegal business. He got to set his own prices, and paid no taxes. Politics is irrelevant. I'm happy to see him get charged.

[DudeAsInCool]

Whats interesting is the same politicians who denounce Cuba have no problems smoking their illegal cigars...

[KiwiCoromandel]

seems they found their " smoking cigar "....how pathetic

[MxRob]

Most of the cigar making talent left Cuba and went to Nicaragua and Honduras after the embargo was put into place.

They produce high quality cigars there and many of the cubans you see here in the US are fakes. Sure some real ones get through but why waste the money when you can buy an equal one cheaper.

[Redneck4sure]

As a lawyer... I'm sure he'll be havana great time in prison :psychofun:

This pun and the "deckhand"!! You are too much! :good job:

It is hard for me to feel sorry for the guy. He is a lawyer and knows the consequences. Whether or not the embargo should be lifted, it is the law and he got caught. There are laws that I don't like and think they should be changed but if you go around ignoring the ones you don't like, then what do you have? A lawless society where everyone does as they please because they don't want follow the laws that are enacted by their elected officials. If you don't like the laws then you need to contact your elected representatives and vote!

Redneck speech for the day. :)

[nate]

As a lawyer... I'm sure he'll be havana great time in prison  :psychofun:

"Richard "Mick" Connors, 54, was also fined $60,000 and placed on three years' probation"

he's a lawyer--he doesn't get hard time, he gets a fine and a slap on the wrist

Edited June 11, 2004 by nate

[cjules13]

Go find some crack dealers to bust or something - I think this is ridic too... Castro's barely effective right now, just lift the embargo... they got soem prime seafront real-estate down there that I would like to visit... and smoke cigars on the beach... :righteousdude:

[Redneck4sure]

"Richard "Mick" Connors, 54, was also fined $60,000 and placed on three years' probation"

he's a lawyer--he doesn't get hard time, he gets a fine and a slap on the wrist

Yep! The inequities of the justice system. Don't sound exactly "just" does it? :wha':