Considered to be one of the most dangerous prisons in Florida, Federal Correctional Institution, Miami has seen its fair share of controversial incidents including helicopter escape attempts and murders.
10 – Sanjay Kumar
Convicted for orchestrating a massive accounting fraud scandal that rocked the tech industry, Kumar’s jail sentence represents a significant chapter in corporate justice.
The court found him guilty of backdating contracts and obstructing justice, actions that ultimately misled investors and tarnished the reputation of the once-prominent software company, CA Technologies.
Orchestrating a $2.2 billion accounting fraud at the company, he was Initially sentenced to 12 years in 2007 and was released on January 25, 2017, serving just 10-years for good behaviour.
9 – Lou Pearlman
Former impresario for the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC, Pearlman pleaded guilty in 2008 to orchestrating a Ponzi scheme which caused investors and banks who invested to lose $300 million.
Pearlman used his reputation and charisma to lure investors into the fraudulent investment program, promising high returns through fictitious investments in his companies.
In reality, Pearlman was using new investor funds to pay returns to earlier investors, a classic characteristic of a Ponzi scheme which eventually unravelled in 2008.
Pearlman was exposed, leading to his arrest and subsequent conviction on charges of conspiracy, money laundering, and fraud.
In 2008, Lou Pearlman was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for his role in the Ponzi scheme and he passed away in Miami Dade Jail in 2016.
8 – Darren Sharper
A former NFL player and five-time Pro Bowl selection, Sharper faced legal troubles due to a series of sexual assaults committed between 2013 and 2014.
Sharper, had a successful career as a safety for the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and New Orleans Saints, but became infamous for his off-field criminal activities.
Sharper’s modus operandi involved drugging women with substances such as zolpidem and alprazolam, rendering them incapacitated and vulnerable to sexual assault.
In 2014, Sharper pleaded guilty or no contest to charges related to drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women.
In 2016, he was sentenced to 18 years in Miami Dade Jail as part of a plea deal that also required him to register as a sex offender and is not scheduled to be released until late 2028.
7 – Mark Myrie
Know professionally as Buju Banton, Myrie is one of the most significant and well-regarded artists in Jamaican music.
He found himself falling foul of the law in 2009 when he became embroiled in drugs charges.
The charges stemmed from an incident in December 2009 when Buju Banton, along with two others, attempted to purchase cocaine from an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration informant.
The artist was arrested and charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.
During the trial, Banton maintained his innocence, stating that he was merely boasting and talking tough to impress the informant but had no intention of engaging in any drug deal.
Despite his defence, he was convicted on three of the four charges, including conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and using the wires to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.
In 2011, Buju Banton was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison with him being released in 2017.
6 – Bill Campbell
Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia from 1994 to 2002, Campbell faced legal troubles unrelated to his time in office.
Convicted on federal charges of tax evasion, the case centred around allegations that Campbell had failed to report income from illegal activities, including bribery.
In 2006, Bill Campbell was sentenced to 30 months in prison and fined for tax evasion.
The charges were not directly related to his mayoral duties but rather focused on his personal financial dealings.
After serving his sentence, Campbell has kept a relatively low profile in the public eye being released in 2008 after serving 2 years.
5 – Manuel Noriega
The Former dictator of Panama, Noriega was involved in various criminal activities during his time in power that lasted from 1983 to 1989.
Initially a key ally of the United States, the country worked with the Central Intelligence Agency for many years, yet after revelations about his drug trafficking and other illegal activities became apparent, relations soured.
Accused of allowing Panama to become a major trans-shipment point for illegal narcotics, particularly cocaine, Allegations of him receiving significant payments in return surfaced.
In 1988, he was indicted in the United States on charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and racketeering.
In December 1989, the United States launched Operation Just Cause, an invasion of Panama, to depose Noriega and bring him to justice.
He sought refuge in the Vatican Embassy in Panama City but surrendered in January 1990 after enduring a U.S. military siege on the embassy.
Manuel Noriega was then extradited to the United States, where he faced trial and was convicted on various charges, including drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering.
In 1992, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison, however his sentence was later reduced, and he served a portion of it in the United States.
After completing his sentence, he was extradited to France, where he faced money laundering charges and passed away in May 2017 while still incarcerated.
4 – Tim Gionet
More commonly known as Baked Alaska, this American far-right media personality gained notoriety mainly through his advocacy on behalf of alt-right and white supremacist ideology.
Having been arrested on multiple charges of trespassing and assault that included using pepper spray on a bouncer in New York, Gionet was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
This, however, is not the end of his troubles after failing to appear in court and left the state of Arizona, therefore violating his bail conditions.
He was apprehended by the FBI in Houston, Texas, on January 15, 2021 and now faced charges relating to the attack on the capitol building.
He pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing inside a Capitol building and received a further 60-days in Miami Dade jail.
He was released on March 31, 2023, later stating he should never have listened to the NFT Salesman, a reference to Donald Trump, who at the time of his sentence, was president.
3 – Milton Balkany
Surrounded by Controversies, prominent Orthodox Jewish Rabbi Balkany was eventually involved in a criminal case related to securities fraud and extortion.
In 2010, Balkany was convicted of attempting to extort millions of dollars from the manager of a hedge fund.
He allegedly threatened to reveal damaging information about the fund manager unless he donated $4 million to various institutions, including one affiliated with himself.
The charges against Balkany included wire fraud and making false statements to federal agents and this also included misappropriation of charitable funds.
In 2011, he was sentenced to four years in prison and, additionally, he was ordered to pay restitution to the hedge fund manager.
He was released from Miami Dade Jail in 2014 after serving 4 years.
2 – Matthew Martoma
Former hedge fund trader Martoma was involved in one of the most significant insider trading cases in the financial industry.
In 2014, Martoma was convicted of insider trading related to pharmaceutical stocks with the case centring around Martoma’s activities while working at SAC Capital Advisors.
Martoma was accused of using non-public information obtained from a doctor involved in clinical trials of an Alzheimer’s drug to make profitable stock trades.
The information allegedly helped SAC Capital avoid significant losses and generate substantial profits.
In 2014, Martoma was found guilty of securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud.
He was sentenced to nine years in prison and ordered to forfeit $9.3 million in bonuses that he had received based on the illicit trades and was released in 2021.
1 – Michael Conahan
Former judge Conahan was involved in the notorious “Kids for Cash” scandal that unfolded in Pennsylvania and came to light in the mid-2000s.
Conahan was accused of receiving kickbacks from the owner and builder of a private juvenile detention facility.
In return for these kickbacks, the judge directed a significant number of juveniles to be sentenced to detention, often for minor offenses that would typically result in probation or other less severe penalties.
The actions of Conahan were seen as a violation of the juveniles’ rights, as they were denied a fair trial and were subjected to harsh and unnecessary punishments for the financial benefit of the judge involved.
The scandal raised serious questions about the integrity of the juvenile justice system and the potential for corruption within the legal system.
In 2011, Michael Conahan pleaded guilty to federal charges of racketeering, money laundering, mail fraud, tax evasion, and other offenses.
He was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison and is not due for release until 2025.
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