LUCAS OLENIUK/TORONTO STAR
Black fell down the Black Hole...
Paying the Price...the rise and fall of Lord Black of Crossharbour61/2 years,$ 215 thous, $6.1 millions forfeitures and both sides claim victory...
The time and life of Once a Great Canadian wiki here before he renounced his citizenship and becomes the Baron Black of Crossharbour...now he will be known..The Lord of the U.S. Penitentiary....
Conrad Black, Business Magnate, Once the owner of Newspaper Empire, Knighted by the Queen of England, Lord Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour, Historian and the latest to be added to his long and illustrious career and resume, a convicted felon, sentence 6 ½ years, $125, 000 fine, and $6.1 Millions forfeiture.
In Sentencing Conrad Black Judge Amy St. Eve in Chicago courtroom told him:
“Mr. Black, you have violated your duty to Hollinger International and its shareholders. I frankly cannot understand how somebody of your stature could engage in the conduct you have engaged in and put everything at risk ... In the U.S., there's equal justice under the law. No one is above the law and that, Mr. Black, includes you."
Mr. Black who through his lawyers asked re-acquisition of his Canadian Citizenship after Renouncing it, to accept peerage or Knighthood conferred by Queen Elizabeth II but not after suing then PM Martin for not giving him an exemption retaining his Citizenship while accepting the peerage.
Note: The Nickel Resolution of l919 barred Canadians from accepting knighthood or peerage from the Crown of England, unless after renouncing the citizenship.
The reason of course of Mr. Black wanting his citizenship back is to avail the prisoner exchange program, where each country can have each citizen serve his or her sentences in her or his country of citizenship and in the U.S. the felon there is no parole eligibility although a prisoners can pare 15 % of their sentences for good behaviour, while in Canada, prisoners are eligible for parole after serving one third for good behaviour and compulsory parole after serving two thirds. That is for crimes with no minimum sentences, like first degree murder or serious crimes.
Well, both sides claiming victory. On the prosecutors side, headed by the U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who said that they have a case of fraud to prove and they did and 6 ½ years is a lot of time and warning to anyone about stealing money from anyone.
From the Defense, Toronto Lawyer Eddie Greenspan, said they came in the trial accused of stealing $90 millions and expecting 20 years and what his client got is 6 ½ years and $6.1 millions way down from what he was accused of.
I wonder who really is victorious, one guy is going to prison, the shareholders lost millions, another tale of greed and most like what Judge Amy St. Eve, could not understand why, a man born wealthy, have everything, made more, arrogant to no limit, insulted his own country and now beg to be taken under her wing again. Yes, Canada may be one or perhaps the most compassionate nation in this planet, yet she has her limit, Will she takes Mr. Conrad Black again as her Citizen? Majority of Canadians don’t think so...
Here are some of the famous or infamous quotes from Mr. Black and you may search for more...
