Pubdate: Tue, 07 Mar 2000 Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) Copyright: 2000 Richmond Newspapers Inc. Address: P.O. Box 85333, Richmond, VA 23293-0001 Fax: (804) 775-8072 Website: http://www.gateway-va.com/ Author: Eva Agee ON EXILE AND CULPABILITY I read with more than passing interest the February 22 news story, "Man Gets 3 1/2 Years In Drug Case." It is insulting that Project Exile and Virginia Exile have justified giving persons who are far less culpable and whose drug involvement is far less extensive five-plus years in prison when a man who obviously has profited from his activities and was prepared to protect himself will be allowed to escape federal prosecution. And he will not be subjected to the same kind of "justice" that those who were not extensively involved will receive or have received. How can a Commonwealth's Attorney sanction a time reduction of almost 90 percent? How can a judge accept it? Even if it is honest and above-board it gives the appearance that money can buy justice. There is no amount of assistance this man could offer to authorities that makes this sentence reduction fair and justifiable in light of the Commonwealth's tough stance on crime. Our state motto, Sic Semper Tyrannis, is beginning to show that there is some color involved in who the tyrants are perceived to be. Check the federal prosecutions from Richmond and Norfolk and tell the public whether there were any persons less culpable who received far more time. Is it justice or is it just us? Eva Agee Richmond - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk