ON EXILE AND CULPABILITY

I read with more than passing interest the February 22 news story, "Man Gets
3 1/2 Years In Drug Case." It is insulting that Project Exile and Virginia
Exile have justified giving persons who are far less culpable and whose drug
involvement is far less extensive five-plus years in prison when a man who
obviously has profited from his activities and was prepared to protect
himself will be allowed to escape federal prosecution. And he will not be
subjected to the same kind of "justice" that those who were not extensively
involved will receive or have received.

How can a Commonwealth's Attorney sanction a time reduction of almost 90
percent? How can a judge accept it? Even if it is honest and above-board it
gives the appearance that money can buy justice.

There is no amount of assistance this man could offer to authorities that
makes this sentence reduction fair and justifiable in light of the
Commonwealth's tough stance on crime. Our state motto, Sic Semper Tyrannis,
is beginning to show that there is some color involved in who the tyrants
are perceived to be. Check the federal prosecutions from Richmond and
Norfolk and tell the public whether there were any persons less culpable who
received far more time.

Is it justice or is it just us?

Eva Agee
Richmond