Sentence Disparity: A Case Study

A Norfolk woman, convicted of stealing $2.3 million from her employer over five years, was sentenced to serve 28 months in Federal prison for her crime.  The U.S. Attorney, who agreed to plead the case of Leslie M. Coffman down to one count, sought a four year sentence.  Coffman has yet to make any restitution.

As I enter my thirty-fifth month of incarceration for embezzling $2.3 million, knowing I have an active sentence of 13 years, I am left to ponder why I even had a modicum of faith in the system.  Why did I agree to make significant partial restitution at my sentencing hearing? 

As “J Rock” said to me when he showed me the story, “Why’d you deserve this?  You got f----ed.”

Fact is, I shouldn’t have stolen the money.  Fact also is, I didn’t deserve the punishment I received.  It was unjust and justice matters.  And, it makes all the difference in the world if you expect citizens to believe the system works.