Has it come to this? Man robs bank to go to prison till eligible for SS

[dajoki]

MSNBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15240979/

Pre-Social Security plan: Rob bank, go to prison
Discouraged job-hunter asks for 3-year sentence to last till golden years

Updated: 1 hour, 14 minutes ago

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A man who couldn't find steady work came up with a plan to make it through the next few years until he could collect Social Security: He robbed a bank, then handed the money to a guard and waited for police.

On Wednesday, Timothy J. Bowers told a judge a three-year prison sentence would suit him, and the judge obliged.

"At my age, the jobs available to me are minimum-wage jobs. There is age discrimination out there," Bowers, who turns 63 in a few weeks, told Judge Angela White.

The judge told him: "It's unfortunate you feel this is the only way to deal with the situation."

<<snip>>

"It's not the financial plan I would choose, but it's a financial plan," prosecutor Dan Cable said.

[marmar]

1. Good grief...

Retirement planning in Bush's America. And he'll probably have health care in prison.

[Eric J in MN]

2. Sound like satire, but apparently it's real. NT

NT

[dajoki]

6. Bush retirement plan!!

[whistle]

3. The thought has crossed my mind

[dajoki]

5. How about the prosecuter...

"It's a plan"

[lonestarnot]

4. Financial planning 101, but did he forget the torture?

[tridim]

9. Being poor is torture

At least in prison he knows he'll be able to eat every day.

[dajoki]

12. Something many people can't afford n/t

[lpbk2713]

7. Boosh has two more years left in his regime.

I wonder if this guy considered there might not be any SoSec when he's released.


Oh well, there's lots of banks and lots of tickets back to the slammer.

[No Exit]

8. There's a slight hitch in that plan.

Seems to me "they" (Rick Santorum was one name of those involved) did something to the law that makes it impossible for convicted felons to GET Social Security--even if they've paid into it before their conviction.

I do know that I became aware that LOTS of people were losing their Social Security checks in the recent past due to a rule (Santorum said to be involved) passed in which someone with an open felony warrant couldn't collect Social Security. Heard of an actual case. In that case, lawyer worked with prosecutor's office who'd issued the warrant (it happened to be L.A. County) to have the warrant withdrawn.

[dajoki]

11. I wouldn't be surprised by anything...

pRicky has done!!

[Ian_rd]

10. Sucker! SS will be gone soon anyway. That is, if the Repubs remain.

It will be privatized so he can become a millionare by investing his hard earned money into Enron stock.