Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Professor Fritsvold
LEPS 500
14 September 2015
deserves a Pastor Willard Jonessomeone who embraces the community, identifies its needs
and formulates innovative methods to meet them (Wigton, 2011). Jones was recognized for
establishing a community center in the South Haven neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 6.9
million dollar community center was designed to house much needed services for the
economically depressed neighborhood and its residents. The center contained medical and dental
clinics and social, vocational and educational programs as well as domestic violence intervention
services for victims and their children. Its going to be a one-stop shop, Jones says. We
provide the space for these agencies to do what they do best. The people need them. Were
talking about an area where 20 percent of households live in poverty with an annual income of
$12,000 to $14,000. Thats poverty (Wigton, 2011). As the Executive Director of the
community center, Jones personally managed the design, construction and fundraising. Donors to
After completing the construction of the community center in 2012, Jones requested
additional money from the board of directors to operate the center. The board was skeptical of
the request for additional funds and conducted an audit of the community center. The results of
that audit revealed transfers to church bank accounts. Jones refused to cooperate with the board
when asked to submit to an audit of the church bank accounts. As a result of Jones refusal, the
was embezzled by Jones and converted to personal use. What did Jones spend the money on? A
home, gambling, liquor, a 32mm Rolex watch and a mink coat. Jones was subsequently indicted
by the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma on three counts of wire
fraud and tax evasion. Believe it or not, members of the pastors church actually voted to keep
him as their pastor after the indictment. Shortly after being indicted, Jones plead guilty and was
Does the punishment fit the crime? According to the United States Sentencing
Commission and their Federal Sentencing Guidelines it does (United States Sentencing
Commission, 2014). If you dont believe it, conveniently visit www.sentencing.us and use their
nifty sentencing calculator. Based on not having a prior criminal history and a reduced sentence
for acceptance of responsibility, Jones gets a measly thirty-seven month sentence. I argue that the
punishment for the scheme committed by Jones is nowhere near appropriate. It does not take a
research analyst to be able to determine that an armed robbery of a convenience store will on
average be sentenced to more than thirty-seven months in most any jurisdiction. Most
References:
United States Sentencing Commission. (2014, November 1). 2014 USSC Guidelines Manual |
manual/2014/2014-ussc-guidelines-manual
Wigton, S. (2011, December). Beyond the walls - TulsaPeople - December 2011 - Tulsa, OK.
walls/