From Newsgroup: nz.politics


On December 12, 2002, Duke pleaded guilty to the felony charge of filing a false tax
return under 26 U.S.C. -o 7206 and mail fraud under 18 U.S.C. -o 1341[11] According to
The New York Times: "Mr. Duke was accused of telling supporters that he was in financial straits, then misusing the money they sent him from 1993 to 1999. He was also
accused of filing a false 1998 tax return... Mr. Duke used the money for personal
investments and gambling trips... [T]he [supporter] contributions were as small as $5
and [according to the United States attorney, Jim Letten] there were so many that
returning the money would be 'unwieldy.'"[168]

Four months later, Duke was sentenced to 15 months in prison. He served the time in Big
Spring, Texas. He was also fined $10,000 and ordered to cooperate with the Internal
Revenue Service and pay money still owed for his 1998 taxes. After his release in May
2004, Duke said his decision to take the plea bargain was motivated by bias he perceived in the United States federal court system, not his guilt. He said he felt the
charges were contrived to derail his political career and discredit him to his followers, and that he took the safe route by pleading guilty and receiving a mitigated
sentence rather than pleading not guilty and potentially receiving the full sentence.

The mail fraud charges stemmed from what prosecutors described as a six-year scheme to
dupe thousands of his followers by asking for donations. Using the postal service, Duke
appealed to his supporters for funds by falsely saying he was about to lose his house
and life savings. Prosecutors alleged that Duke raised hundreds of thousands of dollars
this way. Prosecutors also stipulated that in contrast to what he wrote in the mailings, he sold his home at a hefty profit, had multiple investment accounts, and
spent much of his money gambling at casinos.[12][169]

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From Newsgroup: nz.politics

Susan Cohen wrote:

On December 12, 2002, Duke pleaded guilty to the felony charge of filing a false tax
return under 26 U.S.C. |e-o 7206 and mail fraud under 18 U.S.C. |e-o 1341[11] According to
The New York Times: "Mr. Duke was accused of telling supporters that he was in
financial straits, then misusing the money they sent him from 1993 to 1999. He was also
accused of filing a false 1998 tax return... Mr. Duke used the money for personal
investments and gambling trips... [T]he [supporter] contributions were as small as $5
and [according to the United States attorney, Jim Letten] there were so many that
returning the money would be 'unwieldy.'"[168]

Four months later, Duke was sentenced to 15 months in prison. He served the time in Big
Spring, Texas. He was also fined $10,000 and ordered to cooperate with the Internal
Revenue Service and pay money still owed for his 1998 taxes. After his release in May
2004, Duke said his decision to take the plea bargain was motivated by bias he
perceived in the United States federal court system, not his guilt. He said he felt the
charges were contrived to derail his political career and discredit him to his
followers, and that he took the safe route by pleading guilty and receiving a mitigated
sentence rather than pleading not guilty and potentially receiving the full sentence.

The mail fraud charges stemmed from what prosecutors described as a six-year scheme to
dupe thousands of his followers by asking for donations. Using the postal service, Duke
appealed to his supporters for funds by falsely saying he was about to lose his house
and life savings. Prosecutors alleged that Duke raised hundreds of thousands of dollars
this way. Prosecutors also stipulated that in contrast to what he wrote in the
mailings, he sold his home at a hefty profit, had multiple investment accounts, and
spent much of his money gambling at casinos.[12][169]

And Topaz called him one of his greatest leaders!


Michael
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