AP: Former FDA chief fined in stock case

[Eugene]

Former FDA chief fined in stock case

By ANDREW BRIDGES, Associated Press Writer

50 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Former FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford faces fines that exceed
what the veterinarian and food safety expert earned from illegally held stocks
he repeatedly lied about owning.

Under a deal worked out between his attorney and federal prosecutors, Crawford
agreed to a $50,000 fine and probation.

He was to be sentenced Tuesday by Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson who
has authority to approve or disapprove the deal, which would spare Crawford the
maximum six months in jail he could have faced for the two misdemeanors.

Crawford pleaded guilty in October to charges of having a conflict of interest and
false reporting of information about stocks that he and his wife owned. The stocks
were in food, beverage and medical device companies that Crawford regulated while
head of the Food and Drug Administration.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070123/ap_on_re_us/fda_crawford_2

[depakid]

1. If ever there was a case for significant prison time

This is it.

People think that they can just get away with lying and blatant corruption- because there are hardly ever any consequences. This happens on both sides of the aisle, but it's become rampant under Republican rule.

I'd say a mandatory 5 years for this sort of behavior about suits the bill.