Lawyers dey talk say Trump ein pardons don shortchange fraud victims millions of dollars wey dem suppose get as restitution. According to one ex-U.S. pardon attorney, “The victims be the losers” for inside dis matter.
For April, just after e comot from prison because of presidential pardon, convicted fraudster Jason Galanis start new legal fight: e dey try collect money wey e don pay back ein victims already.
As part of ein sentence for 2017, federal judge tell Galanis say e go pay more than $80 million as restitution for all ein fraud schemes. But when President Donald Trump commute Galanis ein 189-month prison sentence for March as part of many pardons wey e do, Galanis ein pardon warrant talk say “no more fines [and] restitution” dem go collect.
Few days later, Galanis ask federal judge to order government say dem for return about $2 million wey e don pay already, e dey argue say because government never give the money to ein victims yet, Galanis get right to collect am.
Galanis ein attorneys write for letter go give the judge last month say, “To put am simple, dem take the money for particular reason. E no dey doubt say the reason no dey again and so… dem for return the money.”
U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel, the judge wey dey handle Galanis ein case, rule on Wednesday say e no fit collect the $2 million. But some legal experts dey talk say Galanis ein attempt to get back the restitution money dey show bigger symptom of wetin dem dey call Trump ein use of executive pardon powers wey no dey like before.
Former U.S. pardon attorney Liz Oyer, wey no dey inside the case, tell ABC News say, “Normally, Department of Justice no dey recommend pardon for cases wey the person owe plenty restitution… so dese pardons wey dey clear big financial debt dey very strange for ein effect.”
According to Oyer, the people wey Trump give pardon during ein second term…