Prison Bro

A Brooklyn federal judge dismissed the tearful plea for mercy from "Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli and sentenced him today to seven years in prison for defrauding investors.

Shkreli is the weasel who jacked up the price overnight of the drug Daraprim from $13.50 a pill to $750 a pill.  Daraprim is used to treat parasitic infections that can be life-threatening for babies, the elderly and AIDS patients.

Shkreli, 34, was convicted of bilking backers of the hedge fund he ran and of fraud in connection with the manipulation of stock shares in Retrophin, which was one of his drug companies.

"This is my fault," he said. "I am not the victim here... Please give me a chance to show what I'm capable of."

But Judge Kiyo Matsumoto, who had the court officer pass Shkreli a box of tissues at one point, was unmoved by his pleading, although the sentence she handed out was far less than the 15 years prosecutors had been seeking.  Judge Matsumoto also ordered the forfeiture of some $7.36 million in Shkreli’s assets.

When Shkreli was convicted last summer, he boasted that he would probably spent less than a year at "Club Fed," a cushy minimum-security facility where he could play tennis and Xbox.

Well Martin, you lousy weasel, maybe you'll find someone in prison who'll make you his bro.  Be sure to give him your cutesy smirk as he has his way with you.

  

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Sums It Up

In a 2 hour long speech to the Federal Assembly, Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced a new array of nuclear-capable weapons including an intercontinental ballistic missile that renders defense systems “useless.”  He also described new supersonic missiles and drone submarines that he said cannot be stopped, showing some of the new weaponry in simulations on a giant screen.

"I want to tell all those who have fueled the arms race over the last 15 years, sought to win unilateral advantages over Russia, introduced unlawful sanctions aimed to contain our country's development ... you have failed to contain Russia," Putin said.

Putin insisted Russia had "no plans to be an aggressor.”  ”We are not going to take anything away from anybody. We have everything we need," he said. "Russia’s strong military is a guarantor of peace on our planet."  

However, he warned: "Any use of nuclear weapons against Russia or its allies … any kind of attack … will be regarded as a nuclear attack against Russia and in response we will take action instantaneously no matter what the consequences are. Nobody should have any doubt about that.”  He accused the West of "ignoring us. Nobody listened to us before. Well listen to us now.”

It is clear that Putin hacked the United State's elections and influenced the 2016 election.  At the same time the Trump administration is being investigated for possible collusion with Russia and stalls sanctions against Russia, Putin is sending a clear signal that he could care less.

Russian interference in our election and Putin's aggressive language, meant to scare the bejesus out of everyone, should be the resolve to make sure it doesn't happen again. Unfortunately, that isn't the case.  

Speaking to the Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, NSA director Adm. Mike Rogers said that he has not been give presidential directive to take action against Russian cyber operations.  

That pretty much sums up what we can expect for this year's midterm elections. 

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