Bittersweet Day
By DianneN
@DianneN (247216)
United States
February 3, 2016 9:02am CST
I have very mixed emotions today.
I am thrilled that my brother is flying back to Florida for a week. Actually, I am getting ready to pick him up at the airport.
On the other hand, I am sick with worry about my husband's childhood friend, who is flying to Albany, NY today, to go to prison for a Class C Felony.
Marc had a joint bank account with his mother. When she passed away, he continued to cash her pension checks. Stupid!
His daughters are heirs to Warner Lambert drugs (Trident Gum, Lubriderm, Bromo-Seltzer, Park Davis drugs, etc.). They hired lawyers, and paid $200,000 of the $250,000 he owes the government to reduce his sentence to 5-8 months, which would wind up being 2-3 months with good behavior.
So why won't they pay it all to keep their dad out of prison? One daughter wants him to be punished and promised to never speak to her sister again if she pays the remaining amount.
My husband called a couple of Marc's close friends to raise the money. Amazingly, none of the friends would help! Perhaps it is due to Marc's financial straits. His former wife is using her fortune to see that he remains penniless. He is in the process of losing his home. He will never be able to pay his friends back. He has never worked.
What a mess!
32 people like this
30 responses
@fawkes62 (1276)
• United States
3 Feb 16
I don't want to be harsh, but he did something that he knew was wrong, and illegal, and I think he should have to take the punishment that was given. He's extremely lucky to have family that would pay enough to get his sentence reduced. Many aren't that lucky and have to serve the full time given to them.
4 people like this
@Juliaacv (48633)
• Canada
4 Feb 16
I'm sorry for the timing of this when you are looking forward to your visit with your brother and yet your hubby must be feeling pretty low about his old friend.
Money or trying to get your hands on more money can make people do things that are so uncharacteristic of their normal selves. I hope that he has time to heal and think and that he can reconcile with his daughters after they cool off.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (48633)
• Canada
4 Feb 16
@DianneN Sadly it is something that although you support him, you have to let him go thru, and you need to enjoy the company of your brother. You love spending time with him and I hope that this visit is relaxing as well as fun for you, don't forget your son and his family are counting the days down to come down to Florida, and then you'll be gone down to see them and busy as ever. Enjoy this time now, okay?
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
3 Feb 16
I can't imagine our sons ever doing that to us, nor we to them. I know one friend is so cheap that he asks for a separate check for himself and his wife when we've all gone out together. One lives in a very expensive home. The other is a newly retired pharmacist. I believe each has his own life to worry about, and we all know Marc would never be able to repay any of us. I have been feeling so low. It is awful.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
3 Feb 16
OH dear what a foolish man. Sadly he has learnt the hard way. Oh dear I am sorry to hear you are gutted by the outcome.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
3 Feb 16
@DianneN Very sad for him though DianneN. You and your husband are very good friends to be thinking of him in such a way!
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
3 Feb 16
He has never worked?? Maybe he should for the first time in his life. Sorry don't mean to sound harsh. What he did was way wrong and stupid. I really think he should pay for his wrongs in some way.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
3 Feb 16
@fishtiger58 He has been the sweetest, kindest person since I first met him when I was 19 years old. Sometimes good people do foolish things when they are desperate. We will always be there for him. He is our friend. I just hope his daughters will be, too.
3 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
3 Feb 16
@DianneN Sometimes we need to learn to grow. Hopefully this will help him in some way.
2 people like this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
3 Feb 16
He made some bad choices, and I don't know his situation, but maybe he felt he had to do it to keep things going in his life. In any case, I hope his daughters relent and do anything they can to keep their dad out of jail. Family is family.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
4 Feb 16
Wow it is a real mess and hopefully it will be over soon. I can't imagine not wanting to help him even without repayment. It is a sad commentary on his relationships. It sounds like from what I am reading he is his own worst enemy.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (49267)
• United States
3 Feb 16
I guess he thought that he wouldn't get caught.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247216)
• United States
4 Feb 16
He never had to work, because they all lived very well off the interest from the principal of his wife's trust fund. When she became of age, she inherited the fund. He dabbled in things to keep busy. And since the divorce, he has been helpless.
1 person likes this
@nottoooldtowrite (2715)
• Philippines
3 Feb 16
That is very sad. Marc will learn his lesson the hard way.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
4 Feb 16
I hope he has to do as little as possible, prison is no joke.
1 person likes this
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
3 Feb 16
Maybe a few months in jail would do him good. He is old enough to do better than he is. Relying on other people to much..
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (80147)
• United States
3 Feb 16
What a mess your husbands friend has gotten himself into. I can understand your worry because going to prison will be difficult for Marc
2 people like this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
5 Feb 16
Sorry you're having a bad day thinking about all this. Maybe things will work out in the end but I can't believe Mark's family won't help. Strange.
1 person likes this
