beanie-babies-founder-gets-probation .jpg

(file)

Some are comparing the sentence handed down by a federal judge on Tuesday to the plush toys that made Beanie Babies founder Ty Warner so rich: Far too soft. Warner, a billionaire, will serve two years of probation for failing to pay income taxes on some $25 million in income he hid for years in a Swiss bank account, according to published reports.

In handing out the light sentence, which also includes community service, U.S. District Judge Charles Kocoras rejected the calls of prosecutors for prison time of up to 57 months. Instead, the judge seem swayed by several of the dozens of letters he received in support of Warner and detailing his charitable works. The judge even read from the letters at the sentencing in Chicago, concluding:

"Warner's private acts of kindness, benevolence and generosity are overwhelming," Kocoras said.

So was the sentence too soft?



Did his billions talk?



And how would a defendant of lesser means fare in the same case?

Tackle these questions and more in the comments.