Sequester Paper Criminals to Cover for Sequestration

Fact I: The IRS recently sent $3.9 billion worth of tax refunds to Identity thieves. For an administration adamant on taxing us more, this is shameful to say the least. I wonder how this figure pans out compared to money owed by tax cheats or dead beats. The latter bunch usually end up paying up sooner or later, courtesy of some snitch coupled with a zealous agent. Good luck with the identity thieves! It may take $1 billion dollars in resources to catch a handful of them: not very efficient!

Fact II: About 2,000 illegal criminals were released in February and 3,000 in March, mostly in California, New Jersey, New York and Texas. DHS Janet Napolitano justified these actions because of a potential budget cut of $4 billion. It did take millions of dollars and man hours to get these people to detention in the first place…all for naut. “We have long advocated for expanded use of alternatives to detention, a step we knew would save taxpayers millions of dollars,” said Ruthie Epstein of Human Rights First.

What maybe a Dream Act for some, is a nightmare for others:  

York County officials on Thursday said that as a result of the pending funding cuts, York County Prison, PA has seen a decline in the number of ICE detainees from a target of 850 to 630 per annum. The federal government pays the prison $83 per day for each detainee. The funding loss will amount to a revenue shortfall of about $18,260 a day. Desperate to hold on to this money, York County Commissioner Doug Hoke said the prison was not releasing any ICE detainees ahead of budget cuts.

Fact III: Since Friday 3/1, we are now officially in Sequestration. Yet the sky did not fall like in the latest premonitial 007 movie…but wait: the Debt Ceiling will befall us soon (3/27) and the government may shut down. Then the Fact II events will go viral so would furloughs, and ICE will have to leave hoards of illegals in the cold.

Fact IV: Paper crimes (tax cheating, SEC fraud, insurance fraud, accounting fraud, etc.) are also called White Collar crimes because the perps are usually professionals with means and education, e.g. lawyers, doctors, brokers, bankers, accountants, etc. Believe it or not, the sentences are quite stiff and commensurate with the amount of money involved even though no violence, drugs, guns or physical harm. These paper felons end up in Club Fed at the cost of about $25,000 per annum. If we take somebody like Madoff for instance. He swindled $50 billion and got 150+ years but realistically will serve about 30 maximum till his death. So he will cost the government at least another $750,000 not counting any incidentals, like disease or injury. Didn't the taxpayers lose enough money with this guy, so now they have to fork another $750,000! Such goes for all the so-called white collar criminals.

Considering Facts I though IV, wouldn't it be a lot more productive if those paper criminals, instead of going to prison and costing a lot of money to the very taxpayer they swindled in the first place, not to mention wasting the talents that society helped them acquire, worked for the Federal government on a work-release type deal. Provided money owed is all paid, they would replace furloughed Federal employees and receive no pay for the duration of their sentence. They are a lot more educated than the average Federal employee and they could do the job a lot more efficiently and productively. This is a net savings of at least $80K per year per felon (including prison cost, salary and benefits). Additional revenue can also be generated by having them wear an anklet (cost $20 per day) to closely monitor their whereabouts. Needless to say personal days, sick days, family days, paid vacations, and pension plans are all out the windows. Now we are really approaching the very substantial figure of $100k per felon per year of FEDERAL SAVINGS!

The Solution is Glaring at us, Let us Sequester It!