The sentences shocked members of Wilmington’s political and financial elite, and veteran bankers such as Robert Christian, who knew the four convicts when he was Wilmington Trust’s chief financial officer before his fortunately-timed retirement in 2006. “I understand the need for punishment. I do not understand the need waste some talented resources by sending them to prison,” Christian told me in an email from his home in Quakertown, Bucks County. “Perhaps some creativity is needed in the criminal justice system when there are non-violent crimes." He’d like to have seen the ex-bankers sentenced to work in schools, teaching financial literacy.