'CHiPs' star gets probation for securities fraud

[RamboLiberal]

Source: USA Today

FORT LAUDERDALE — An actor who starred as one of two California highway officers in the 1970s TV series CHiPs was sentenced Friday to serve three years probation for conspiring to commit securities fraud.

U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn imposed the sentence on Larry Wilcox, 63, who had faced a maximum prison term of five years. Wilcox also must perform 500 hours of community service and pay a fine of $100.

"I think we got an individual who is truly remorseful," Cohn said. "He should not be punished because of his celebrity status."

Wilcox played Officer Jonathan "Jon" Baker on the show, opposite Erik Estrada as Officer Frank 'Ponch' Poncherello. Wilcox left the show a year before it ended its NBC run from 1977-83.

He wiped away tears as he addressed the court before sentencing.



Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2011-01-28-chips-star_N.htm

[Dappleganger]

1. So, why did Martha Stewart get the book thrown at her

and spend time in prison for doing far less? I don't get it.

[closeupready]

2. She didn't plead guilty. Wilcox did.

n/t

[Raster]

3. Because she wrote campaign donation checks to the wrong people.

And the cheney*/bush* SEC needed a high profile scapegoat for a perp walk. Stewart was not known as a republican contributor.

[trud]

4. And she's an uppity female. n/t

[Ian David]

7. Martha Stewart is a Democrat. n/t

[CBGLuthier]

8. Perjury. Different Crime.

She was not convicted of stock fraud. She was convicted of lying about it.

Different crime.

[keopeli]

5. I recall stories of how Jon and Ponch didn't get along when the cameras were off...

...because Ponch was gay and Jon was a Fundy Christian. Perhaps this is some karma for being a judgmental prick? Just a thought.

[forty6]

6. Ponch was /is gay? That one I never heard before! Not that I really

care either way, but I guess I just never followed rumors and behind the scenes facts about that TV stars.

[OnlinePoker]

10. Estrada's been married 3 times and has 3 kids

There's also nothing on his IMDB profile about it. This doesn't prove that he's not gay, but I doubt it.

[pinniped]

9. He should've been a big Latin soap opera star like Ponch.

.

[underpants]

11. offering to pay kickbacks to pension-fund managers or stockbrokers...to buy penny stocks

Wilcox was involved in one of several kickback operations run by more than a dozen small-company stock promoters, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Federal regulators said the promoters were caught in an FBI undercover sting operation in South Florida offering to pay kickbacks to pension-fund managers or stockbrokers for using clients funds to buy penny stocks.

Wilcox cooperated with federal authorities, providing information to help identity the roles of two others involved in the scheme, according to federal prosecutors.