• 04 Jan 2010 at 1:14 PM

Thanks, But No Thanks

By

Bradley Birkenfeld single-handedly made the U.S. government’s case against UBS and forced the Swiss bank to hand over the names of more than 4,000 alleged tax cheats. But he’s still going to jail.
The awesomely-named William Zloch, a federal judge in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., told Birkenfeld he’s not getting out of the 40-month sentence he got for helping UBS clients skirt their taxes. And so, barring a change of heart or judge, Bradley Birkenfeld will be reporting to some sort of federal prison on Friday, despite his patriotic and totally not self-serving assistance to his government, which is $780 million richer as a result.


Birkenfeld sought a belated Christmas present, telling Zloch that he was “ready, willing and able” to spill more dirt on UBS and the people who pay it to avoid paying taxes.
Prosecutors were a little less sanguine about how helpful Birkenfeld was, despite admitting that they basically had no case against UBS without Birkenfeld’s cooperation. They insisted on the clink, arguing that Birkenfeld was less forthcoming than he was taking credit for.
U.S. Judge Won’t Reconsider Jail Sentence For UBS Informant [WSJ]

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Comments (35)

  1. 1
    Posted by Effective Date | January 4, 2010 at 9:24 AM

    that's what i said to the bridge to nowhere!
    - rogue lady

  2. 2
    Posted by guest | January 4, 2010 at 9:32 AM

    Yeah but after 40 months, he'll be a multimillionaire from collecting the 15-30% of the taxes, fines, penalities, interest, etc… collected by the IRS. Not bad, especially with the free room and board for 3+ years….

  3. 3
    Posted by guest | January 4, 2010 at 9:37 AM

    Anyone catch the segment on 60 minutes? This guy seems like a royal douche. I'm shocked he hasn't gotten mercked yet by someone with various ties..

  4. 4
    Posted by guest | January 4, 2010 at 9:42 AM

    The Feds would have never caught UBS unless someone came to them. This sh!t goes on under their incompetent noses, hello you are a regulator! This guy is a fool if he thinks he was going to get the royal treatment. Anything the govt. touches is a clusterf#ck, do not get caught up in one…..

  5. 5
    Posted by guest | January 4, 2010 at 9:55 AM

    Anal_yst, any musings on Mr. Zloch and his situation?

  6. 6
    Posted by guest | January 4, 2010 at 10:33 AM

    Aw shucks, I thought it was Steve Berkenfeld going to jail. Would have made my new year!

  7. 7
    Posted by guest | January 4, 2010 at 10:38 AM

    Tom Fox

  8. 8
    Posted by NorbVonnegut | January 4, 2010 at 10:57 AM

    Would you spend 40 months in jail for $550 million?
    Why not?
    http://acrimoney.com/2010/01/04/spend-40-months-p…

  9. 9
    Posted by guest | January 4, 2010 at 11:02 AM

    Serving time would be understandable if the others (14,000) who illegally hid their money also went to jail but no one else is serving time. Bet this judge was appointed by the Bushies who always protected their own

  10. 10
    Posted by guest | January 4, 2010 at 1:42 PM

    The Feds would have never caught UBS unless someone came to them. This sh!t goes on under their incompetent noses, hello you are a regulator! This guy is a fool if he thinks he was going to get the royal treatment. Anything the govt. touches is a clusterf#ck, do not get caught up in one…..

  11. 11
    Posted by guest | January 4, 2010 at 2:38 PM

    Tom Fox

  12. 12
    Posted by guest | January 4, 2010 at 5:21 PM

    Bess,
    You know very well that this is my favorite line "Thanks,but no thanks".
    Tiger

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