I’m with Jeff on this one. The plea bargain is a get out of jail for cheap card for swindlers and snake oil salesmen, and the victims are gafucked in every situation. As the article points out, they will never see their money again.
This SEVERELY damages the lives of all these clowns swindled, while they should be awarded damages on top of thir losses. The IRS gets its money first but the victims are screwed.
Lock them up, throw away the key, and maybe someone else playing the con game won’t try it. Losing everything in your life, down to your shoelaces and freedom, is a pretty good deterrent.