Posted By:
Jeff LichtmanThe federal sentencing guidelines provide an advisory guide on what judges should mete out to convicted defendants. Skilling received, no doubt, the high end of that adjusted guidelines range. Only killers and huge drug dealers have ranges that can be life without parole in a federal case (keeping in mind that there is no longer 'parole' in a federal sentence). There is no cushy camp for defendants facing that kind of time. Skilling got hammered in large part because of the public's disgust (rightfully so) for massive corporate greed and fraud. I'm not an advocate for Skilling by any means; I think he's a pig and got what he deserved. I also believe in justice for all no matter my personal feelings. A life sentence for Skilling would have been inappropriate; a de facto life sentence is what he ended up getting and is more than enough by anyone's count.