This post continues what we talked about earlier in the week, mistakes made as teenagers. While earlier in the week we talked about individuals serving life sentences for offenses they committed as teenagers, this story is about someone who is suffering the negative effects of something he did when he was 18, nearly 50 years ago. At 68-years-old, one man probably thought that the one time he used a cardboard dime at a laundromat when he was 18 was long behind him. Unfortunately, he just lost his job because of it.
Most people in St. Paul would be shocked to learn that a criminal record for something so minor as operating a coin-changing machine by false means, for which the 68-year-old served only two days in prison, would have much of an impact today. Sadly, crimes like theft, larceny or anything done by false means is likely to create problems long after an offender has served his or her time. Because employers look at these kinds of crimes with a high degree of scrutiny, it is important to work with a lawyer from the moment police suspect a person of theft.
In this particular case, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. issued new regulations last year that recently went into effect. One of these rules was that anyone who had a criminal record for money-laundering, breach of trust or dishonesty-related crimes would be unable to work with a bank. This meant that a 68-year-old customer service representative would lose his job because of something that happened 50 years ago.
The FDIC’s regulations were originally meant for people with enough power and authority to steal money or undertake some other widespread fraudulent activities. Because banks don’t want to risk the fines for noncompliance, however, they are firing anyone who would qualify under the regulations.
While this story is uncommon, it does illustrate the long-term effects of being convicted for theft.
Source: The Associated Press, “Wells Fargo Fires Worker, Richard Eggers, Over Laundromat Incident From 1963,” Aug. 27, 2012
By visiting our website you can learn more about our work with theft.
