Women imprisoned after Manhattan jury rejects `Lord made me do it' defense

(Sorry about snipping the '2' from the headline, mods. This was the only way it made sense.)

NEW YORK -- Two women who gave new meaning to the term "faith-based initiative" have been thrown in prison for duping more than 1,000 investors nationwide out of nearly $2 million.

It took a Manhattan jury less than three hours Wednesday to find Roberta Dupre, 61, and her accomplice, Beverly Stambaugh, 55, guilty of cheating the investors with a religion-laced scam promising them a cut of the late Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos' fortune.

When investors raised doubts, they were directed to Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."

The wire fraud trial featured a God-made-me-do-it defense seen occasionally in state trials involving violent crimes but rarely in white-collar cases in federal court. The case also was unusual because many victims still believe Dupre's claim that she was using their money to free billions of dollars from a secret bank account belonging to Marcos.


http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--religiousscam1021oct21,0,1688081.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

I'm shocked it took 3 whole hours to convict. The jury probably decided to order in lunch. It's against God's law to deliberate on an empty stomach.

not a chance in Manhattan.

and I can't imagine anyone who would buy this defense. We're not all as dumb as some people give us credit for being.

at Chimpie's impending trial for lying about his reasons for waging war on Iraq? After all, he seems to be using the same defense, "God told me to."

They should have tried that.

can use that one.

You know, "the Lord told me to" and then "the Devil made me do it"?

That's probably O.K., though. No one will notice.

Be warned...

I know that's from The Merchant of Venice, but does anyone know the act or scene?

http://www-tech.mit.edu/Shakespeare/merchant/merchant.1.3.html

ANTONIO

This was a venture, sir, that Jacob served for;
A thing not in his power to bring to pass,
But sway'd and fashion'd by the hand of heaven.
Was this inserted to make interest good?
Or is your gold and silver ewes and rams?

SHYLOCK

I cannot tell; I make it breed as fast:
But note me, signior.

ANTONIO

Mark you this, Bassanio,
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
An evil soul producing holy witness
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,
A goodly apple rotten at the heart:
O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!

SHYLOCK

Three thousand ducats; 'tis a good round sum.
Three months from twelve; then, let me see; the rate--

ANTONIO

Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you?

SHYLOCK

Signior Antonio, many a time and oft
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my moneys and my usances:
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,
And all for use of that which is mine own.
Well then, it now appears you need my help:
Go to, then; you come to me, and you say
'Shylock, we would have moneys:' you say so;
You, that did void your rheum upon my beard
And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold: moneys is your suit
What should I say to you? Should I not say
'Hath a dog money? is it possible
A cur can lend three thousand ducats?' Or
Shall I bend low and in a bondman's key,
With bated breath and whispering humbleness, Say this;
'Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last;
You spurn'd me such a day; another time
You call'd me dog; and for these courtesies
I'll lend you thus much moneys'?

ANTONIO

I am as like to call thee so again,
To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too.
If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not
As to thy friends; for when did friendship take
A breed for barren metal of his friend?
But lend it rather to thine enemy,
Who, if he break, thou mayst with better face
Exact the penalty.

SHYLOCK

Why, look you, how you storm!
I would be friends with you and have your love,
Forget the shames that you have stain'd me with,
Supply your present wants and take no doit
Of usance for my moneys, and you'll not hear me:
This is kind I offer.

BASSANIO

This were kindness.

SHYLOCK

This kindness will I show.
Go with me to a notary, seal me there
Your single bond; and, in a merry sport,
If you repay me not on such a day,
In such a place, such sum or sums as are
Express'd in the condition, let the forfeit
Be nominated for an equal pound
Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body pleaseth me.

Ant:
Mark you this, Bassanio,
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
An evil soul, producing holy witness,
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,
A goodly apple rotten at the heart
O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!

For The Merchant of Venice see:
http://absoluteshakespeare.com/plays/merchant_of_venice/a1s3.htm

This quote is based on Matthrews 4 where the Devil DOES QUOTE Scripture:

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'<2> "
Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'

http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=MATT+4&language=english&version=NIV

I'm going to go see if I can dig up my BBC version, the one with John Rhys-Davies in it.

Thanks again! :hi:

:shrug:

Just checkin' ....


:hippie:

That claim only works for heads of state: in lesser mortals it is always recognized for the idiocy and insanity it is....

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

Gee, isn't the oath of office wherein the incoming president swears to defend the US Constitution supposed to be the Reality referred to in our Reality-based government?

Maybe swearing on Bible stories to be Reality-based is a mexed missage (direct W quote) for chimps on a Crusade with limited ability to reason.

No surprise that a theocracy has reared its ugly head in the White House.

No more Bibles at presidential inaugurations, ok?
We can't afford all those body bags, widows, and orphans that faith-based terror causes.

how come it works for him? He should be in prison.

Who the last time I checked still had a job...but hopefully not for much longer once we get a Secretary of Defense who's not a taint on America...