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Rikers Island State Penitentiary, NY where Raphael Golb, the son of an academic rival, could be sentenced to 4 years. . . . . .for certain emails that he sent perhaps hoping to "obtain a benefit" or perhaps hoping to "annoy," by parodying a professor; And email accounts he opened -including many he never used; And for a name he invented; And for perhaps hoping the professor might not get $650. [But which the professor got.] |
It is important to note how extreme was the verdict concerning these emails from "larry.schiffman@gmail.com." I have looked at the Grand Jury Indictment and here were the charges, which I interpret as follows: For Dr. Lawrence Schiffman's case alone, Raphael was indicted for:
8 counts of Identity Theft (2 types of felonies: "assume the identity of another person");
6 counts of Criminal Impersonation (to obtain a "benefit");
5 counts of Forgery;
and one count Aggravated Harrassment (to "annoy").
The jury found Raphael guilty on all these counts.
What kind of big "criminal investigation" was this? Dr. Schiffman said he did not know who was responsible. The police officer who signed the warrant, witness for the prosecution Officer McKenna, said that from the very beginning of the criminal investigation, two years ago, Raphael Golb was the only person he investigated. He had Raphael's M.O. from day one.
If all they wanted was for Raphael Golb to stop, there were far less violent ways to have accomplished that.
If all they wanted was for Raphael Golb to stop, there were far less violent ways to have accomplished that.
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| Six policemen with guns and handcuffs arrested Raphael Golb in his bed, the son of an academic rival. . . . . .for certain emails that he sent perhaps hoping to "obtain a benefit" or perhaps hoping to "annoy," by parodying a professor; And email accounts he opened -including many he never used; And for a name he invented; And for perhaps hoping the professor might not get $650. [But which the professor got.] |
I know this is no laughing matter. But- sending 6 policemen with guns and handcuffs? What, in case Raphael stuck out a finger to punch one last "PDQ" on his computer keys? All 125 pounds of him (as his lawyer said)? Is this how the NYPD delegates their manpower? 5 of those policemen could have been stopping 5 crimes during the time of Raphael's arrest.
Something here seems a bit peevish- to load on all these heavy criminal charges for what Raphael Golb did- the son of an academic rival- it makes me almost want to laugh. It almost just sounds to me like somebody got really mad. But that's just my opinion.
The District Attorney's office sought up to 4 years for Raphael Golb, upstate in Reikers Island State Penitentiary. And in fact after the sentencing, rather than let Raphael wait for the Appeals office to open in 2 hours, it was ruled that Raphael should be shackled immediately and sent upstate on the very next bus to Rikers Island State Penitentiary. I wonder what horrendous crimes they thought Raphael Golb might have committed in those 2 hours.
I am an English teacher. All my information and interpretations come from what I witnessed at the trial and read online. I took notes at the trial as best I could, and have looked for as much online as I can; but I do not always understand the nuances in law, or scholarship. If you see errors, please drop me a line.
