Former Wal-Mart Exec Sentenced for Theft

FORT SMITH, Ark. -- Former No. 2 Wal-Mart Stores Inc. executive Thomas Coughlin, who pleaded guilty to stealing money, merchandise and gift cards from the retailer, was sentenced Friday in federal court to 27 months of home detention and five years probation.

Coughlin, 57, avoided any prison time, but was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and $400,000 in restitution.

Prosecutors had asked for Coughlin to serve six months to a year in prison, but U.S. District Judge Robert Dawson agreed with a doctor who testified that Coughlin's health was too poor for the former Wal-Mart executive to enter prison.

Coughlin pleaded guilty in January to stealing items from Wal-Mart worth just a fraction of the millions of dollars he earned in salary, bonuses and stock options.

Dawson said Coughlin had already been punished by the publicity surrounding the case and the possibility of losing his retirement benefits.

http://www.newsday.com/business/investing/wire/sns-ap-wal-mart-coughlin,0,863984.story?coll=sns-ap-investing-headlines

That's such an exception that it's amazing.

Prosecutors had asked for Coughlin to serve six months to a year in prison, but U.S. District Judge Robert Dawson agreed with a doctor who testified that Coughlin's health was too poor for the former Wal-Mart executive to enter prison.

I think Leona Helmsley's husband got off for the same thing. It's the "I'm too old and feeble to go to prison" defense. It never amazes me that these crooks are never too old and feeble to enjoy their ill-gotten gains. Just when they're caught...

Apparently, you can only go to prison to serve your sentence if you're young and healthy...

Their execs get paid VERY WELL! I can't even guess at the salary of the #2 exec. I guess the greed of the family taught him something!

Being a #2 exec, he probably reviewed and signed off on the draconian anti-employee theft policies that Walmart has enforced for the past few years. I remember about a year ago it was revealed they had stopped prosecuting minor shoplifters, and concentrated their security efforts on employees who were taking things out the back door - no matter if it was still-in-the-box TVs or broken lawn furniture that was going to be thrown out, 100% no tolerance. (Note: I am not advocating theft from Walmart, or disagree with their security measures, so long as it does not entail locking emergency exits or locking in their illegal alien cleaning crews.)

He earns millions of dollars each year off the blood, sweat, and tears of the workers underneath him, yet that is still not enough. He still had to steal just to satisfy his greed.

The best corporatists are never so impulsive. The best corporatists always operate on plans, never impulses.

to steal from the company in in plane sight and call it executive perks.

One rule for them, another for the rest of us.

There HAS to be a ton of prisoners with these same conditions.

defending the peons!

and got the adult version of restriction?

what a terrible punishment..he has to stay home and watch tv or read or putter in the garden.....all because he's a rich white guy..
justice..hrrrumph..

have they busted any corrupt union bosses lately? :sarcasm:

white collar crfiminal gets off. Anybody else would go to prison.