Today I read that Joseph C. McClain, selected as one of Licking County’s 20 Most Successful People Under The Age Of 40, of Heath, Ohio took $475,000 from 40 people and he was found guilty on 25 counts of grand theft. Was this the success that they were referring to? His penalty, 5 years in prison. Some of the people he stole from were elderly. He was a businessman with investment schemes. He would steal entire houses in his schemes. His victims were many times elderly with money to invest and those wishing to buy houses that had no financial means to do so through normal financing.

Why the great divide in severity of punishment? The first obvious notion would be that David Ball wasn’t nice about it at all. Mr. Ball would go right into a home and risk injury to himself and others as he took his loot. Joseph McClain was not even willing to risk injury as the coward would just use the financial system and the trust of the honest to take the entire house! However, Mr. McClain would have his employees pose as victims and they would console their victims.

Mr. Ball had no supporters and nobody came to his defense. It was reported that Mr. McClain had more supporters than victims in the courtroom. How does someone like McClain find supporters? People from his own profession and his own circle of friends, who should have been ashamed to know him at all, were more than willing to give support. The supporters assure us that Mr. Mclain is a very nice person and that he just made some bad choices. McClain also stated that he was just following what he had been taught to do! The large number of supporters that do not dispute McClain’s actions are a red flag to anybody that the real estate and financial investment business is tainted and corrupt. If you’re in these professions, don’t be surprised when people are suspicious of you. You may not deserve the accusations, but after a trial like this, all of you are suspect.

Licking County, Ohio’s Judge Spahr sympathized as well by saying that McClain’s problems stemmed from “bad choices”. Apparently, when considering sentences, judges make some bad choices also. I’m sure Mr. Ball is wishing that he had caught the judge on a “bad choice” day too! In my opinion, Judge Spahr’s bad choice to only give 5 years for 25 counts is a worse choice that than the criminal made.

The argument is made that McClain should not have received any jail time because he cannot earn money to make restitution if he is setting in jail. Can you imagine that argument for Mr. Ball? McClain deceived people out of huge amounts of money 25 times. He is a pattern criminal. How do you think that a pattern criminal will approach earning $475,000? He’ll commit more crimes! He is not a businessman, he’s a criminal. McClain even has an army of supporters who are probably willing to assist in his next misdeed as he did 25 times before.

We see white collar criminals getting a free ride and  maintaining their respect, dignity, and support of their peers. We see the other side of “entitlement” with the wealthy professionals. I would be certain that Mr. Ball knew he was stealing and he fit the stereotype of a thief. McClain’s plight is somehow different. As our economy nosedives, many wealthy feel that they are still entitled to their ill-gotten riches. McClain wanted to continue his style of living even though his chosen profession would no longer support it. It was reported that his methods were the only methods he understood. Do you see the climate of entitlement?

Neither Ball or McClain ever had the thought that there lack of skills may require them to work for a living. It was far easier to victimize an unsuspecting. There is no difference between the two other than McClain was more deceptive. Far be it from our justice system, to not understand McClain’s claim to entitlement. The lawyers and the judges are well known for similar sentiments of entitlement in their profession.

For those of us who understand that there is no real entitlement in America, it’s time to stop giving trust freely. Most of us understand that we must produce goods or services in order to maintain our standard of living. You have the right to withhold trust on professionals you rely on. Don’t let the suit or the smile deceive you. Real Estate Agents, Lawyers, Insurance Agents, Politicians, Bankers, and Investment Professionals are proving to be a bigger threat than street punks and they have no law to fear.