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SDNY COURTHOUSE, Jan 24 – When former Congressman Chris Collins came up for sentencing on January 17, he and his lawyers were ready with arguments about the Boy Scouts. 

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Vernon S. Broderick was ready with a statement that he had not considered Collins' political views in imposing sentence on him, ultimately 26 months in a prison camp in Pensacola, Florida, to begin on March 17. Hear Inner City Press recap on WBEN Radio, here.

  But on January 24, in sentencing tippee Stephen Zarsky who was directly tipped by the ex-Congressman's son Cameron Collins to whom he gave five years probation, Judge Broderick gave only four years probation, no jail time. The sentencing, in nearly empty Courtroom 110 where phone use was not permitted, leading to a mere three tweet thread from the hallway, was replete with references to an undisclosed disease of Zarsky's that led him to communicate with people in the "wee hours."

   Zarsky's lawyer said "he is not a politician... He is a romantic poet, a songwriter, he has a guitar collection."  When at last it was Zarsky's own turn to speak, he told Judge Broderick he hopes the Judge hears his songs one day.

How about this one: Don't look for justice in Foley Square. OneCoin version here. Or these Periscope videos, I & II. More on Patreon here. We'll have more on and of this.

  As to Cameron Collins' five years probation, somewhat defensively Judge Broderick said that anyone questioning his sentence could consider the context.

  Inner City Press did its best to live tweet that sentencing, here. But to some, we are left with the message that for example a Bronxite who attempts to rob a bank without a weapon of any kind gets 151 months, and the affluent son of a Congressman who essentially steals $500,000 gets no jail time.

  Then again, Francis Lorenzo who bribed the United Nations then testified against co-defendant Ng Lap Seng got time served. More on Patreon here.

 Much of the debate back on January 17 concerned whether Chris Collins, when he told his son Cameron about the setback for Innate Immunotherapeutics, could or should have told him, "You can't trade on this."    

Another concerned whether Collins recklessly harmed his constituents by actively running for office when he knew or should have known he likely could not serve out the term.  

What made that issue complex is that a defendant has a right to proclaim his innocence and should not be punished for it. But to attack the opposing candidate?  

Collins said he did not want to return to Buffalo. Judge Broderick after imposing sentence urged him to do so.

Collins' son Cameron will soon be sentenced. It seems Chris Collins will not be there. But Inner City Press will. Watch this site - and the @InnerCityPress Twitter feed, podcast and Patreon site. In fact, more on this Chris Collins story on Patreon, here.

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