alt Hacker NewsI got very annoyed by his portrayal in the first and especially last episodes of this podcast. Especially by the woman in the last episode who said her heart was broken for him and there was no justice in locking him up.
Shan Hanes was both a victim and a serious criminal. If he had lost just his own money I'd feel terrible for him. But as he got in deeper he was knowingly taking money first from his employer and later directly from his own customers' accounts. He took steps to cover his tracks. Shan Hanes is exactly where he belongs.
Edit - I listened back. Her name is Kathy Wilson, a mental health professional in Colorado. She called criticism of Shan "victim blaming". She compared his situation to the bank being robbed at gunpoint. She again calls his sentence "victim blaming".
I will say I think his 24 year sentence is barbaric but I often feel that way about American prison sentencing.
Replies
agreed on all accounts
He was a thief that stole people's life savings.
He was used by more successful thieves. He is still responsible for his actions
I feel terribly sad for him, a tragedy for him and his. But he choose to steal
The all-American dream success story "A part-time preacher at a local church, Hanes embodied a certain small-town ideal: He lived in a nice house with his wife and three daughters and volunteered at high school football games."
Testing the waters "Hanes was eventually fired for reasons that remain in dispute"
Hubris works "Hanes assembled a group of local investors who started a bid to buy the bank and restore control"
Self-immolation where the lies stop working "After draining his personal savings, Hanes began stealing — from his local investment club, from his church and finally from the bank."
And, as you note above, the conman still has his defenders ready to open their hearts (and probably checkbooks!) for another round.