Do Fraud Criminals believe that they are Entitled to Cheat?
Interesting claim, as reported in the Toronto Star, Black stumbled into a common trap
"Arrogance and a sense of entitlement are common among business leaders who are, like Conrad Black, convicted of obstructing justice by destroying or hiding evidence, says a former U.S. prosecutor.They think they can get away with it. They think they're smarter than everyone else, said Jacob Zamansky, now a New York securities lawyer who represents individuals in cases against Wall Street brokers.
Each of these high-profile people has a sense of entitlement or a certain amount of arrogance that they’re never going to get caught, Zamansky said."
In Conrad Black's case, his attempts to subvert an investigation were thwarted when he was caught on video lugging boxes of files from his office at Hollinger headquarters at 10 Toronto St.
It shows, like nothing else, a guilty state of mind, Zamansky said.
Black -a millionaire whose wealth would generally allow him to have his heavy lifting done by a personal assistant, maid, chauffeur or butler- was shown lugging 13 boxes through back door, breaking an Ontario court order in the process.
A picture's worth a thousand words on that, Zamansky said.
It's not something that a normal person would do or someone who felt they were innocent would do. It just makes the government's case easier.(my emphasis)
I agree with this observation, and would add that the insane spending habits of Mr. and Mrs. Black also show a "guilty state of mind".
Like all con criminals, Mr. Black had to be extravagent -money needed to be had for the sole purpose of showing off.
The money wasn't his, something that he could own, cherish his accomplishments which brought the wealth, and ulitmately pass on to his children.
No, the money had to be spent, like Lady MacBeth washing her hands endlessly and ultimately in vain.
Our Nation would have been better off recognizing Mr. Black's sufferings earlier.
