Parish to appeal 24-year prison sentence
The Post and Courier
Al Parish
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Disgraced economist Al Parish did the crime when he bilked $66 million out of nearly 600 investors.
But he doesn't want to do the time — at least not all of his 24-year sentence.
The former Charleston Southern University economist, who last month was handed the federal prison term after pleading guilty in a massive case of fraud, is planning to appeal the sentence, said Andy Savage, the lawyer for his criminal case.
Savage filed notice Tuesday in federal court that he intends to appeal the sentence to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va. He said the move reserves Parish's right to appeal. Now, Parish's legal representatives will review the case for "any mistakes that may have been made in imposing the sentence."
Savage said Parish's 24-year sentence was on the low end of sentencing guidelines for his crimes. But, he said, the guidelines are no longer mandatory. He and Parish were hoping the sentence would fall below the guidelines.
In previous cases Savage has studied that were similar to Parish's, sentences "averaged in the neighborhood of eight years."
Savage said he likely won't represent Parish during the appeal process.
Parish will either get a court-appointed appellate lawyer or his family will pay an attorney, Savage said.
He said also the Bureau of Prisons has designated the Butner Federal Correctional Complex in North Carolina as Parish's place of incarceration.
The complex, near the Research Triangle area of Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill, includes a federal medical center, two medium-security sites and one low-security facility.
Butner is the prison in which Parish preferred to serve his time, Savage said. He likely will be moved there in the next few weeks. For now, he remains in the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Ga., about an hour from Florida, Savage said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments
Perspective (anonymous) says...
The only mistake was that he only got 24 years. Accept his appeal and re-sentence him to more time.
July 16, 2008 at 2:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
auger (anonymous) says...
If this buffoon has the cash for an appeal, he has money stashed somewhere. Lets play for double or nothing. If he wins an appeal, he pays back 66 Million bucks. If he loses, the sentence is doubled!
July 16, 2008 at 3:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ms_lady2u (anonymous) says...
You did the crime "Fat-boy" now do the time,you was'nt appealing when you was out here living the glamarous life!!
July 16, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
I would like to know to which "similar" cases Savage is referring.
Fraud in any instance is bad, but the "fraud of Parish" was compounded by the fact that he committed it upon people with whom he had a personal relationship...people he considered friends.
It is bad enough when a person commits fraud upon people who are nameless & faceless. The fraud takes on something more sinister when it is committed upon people whose names & faces & lives are so familiar to the "defrauder."
July 16, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Roget (anonymous) says...
Mr. Parish has shamed himself and his family name. Any attempt to minimize his punishment is yet another affront to his victims and the law abiding citizens who quietly work hard in hopes of having a rewarding and comfortable retirement. His greed and hunger for accolades (and apparently sausage biscuits)have earned him his lot in life. He should be grateful his punishment was not at the hands of those he bilked. Although incapable because of his arrogance, he should take it like a man and let his family put this behind them.
July 16, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
Methinks he has cash stashed also, if he can afford Andy Savage's expensive azz. I'm with Roget, he needs to man up, and accept what he's done. I don't know why Parrish keeps playing the heart ailment card, you have to have a heart to have an ailment!
July 16, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weeeee (anonymous) says...
I hate his face. Seriously. Every time I see any article about him, I get PO'd. So that's what it has to be.
He deserves the death penalty.
July 16, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
I agree-perish the Parish..that's good CB
July 16, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lookingonthebrightside (anonymous) says...
auger - I agree with you; he must have money somewhere. That would be hilarious if they actually enforced your suggestion.
July 16, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JDHawg (anonymous) says...
If he does get out somebody will probably kill him or at least beat the sh*t out of him.
July 16, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
I am sick of this scoundrel. After what he did to all of those people, paricularly the elderly, he's lucky he wasn't lynched and hung from a tree. They probably would have needed a mobile crane to hoist his large barge into the air.
July 16, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
southerngirl45 (anonymous) says...
I still say Mrs.Econo"bug"knew what was going on!Now it is possible that's she is stupid!If Andy Savage's parent was one of his victims would he have taken the case? YES!.It's called greed!I personally am sick of these two.The ones I feel sorry for are all the innocent people that big fat bully cheated,and I agree with everyone,THERE IS money somewhere,and I think his wife knows where it is.I alsso feel compassion for his children,they are victims also.Can you imagine going to school in this day and time,and your father's big ugly face on every newspaper? So many victims and yet he thinks he deserves no punishment!!!!VERY SAD INDEED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 16, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
disco (anonymous) says...
He'll die in prison anyway within a few years. Look at him - obese and seconds away from a heart attack.
July 16, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ysillyme (anonymous) says...
why send his big butt to my home state? He is lucky he is going to Butner though, it really is a "country club" style prison. There are some some ruff n' tuff prisons in N.C. he should be grateful he will do his time at Butner.
July 16, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stephaniem (anonymous) says...
Butner is the prison in which Parish preferred to serve his time...............
you get to pick which prison you get to go to?
I like Andy Savage. He is a good man.....way to expensive for me though.
I remember a time when I thought about putting money aside for investing for a nest egg. One look at this client and his suits told me not to even bank where he was if he was the teller
July 16, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Neponset (anonymous) says...
I have not read all of the above comments, but if this a repeat, sorry
This reminds me of school. This smart a** student goes up to the teacher and disputes the grade on a test. The teacher, listens, and then regrades the whole test and the smart a** ends up with a lower grade.
July 16, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
HE stole so much money...he better be happy he got 24 years ONLY!
July 16, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CaptPete (anonymous) says...
Go serve your time.
July 16, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
summerville_guy (anonymous) says...
As out of shape as Al Parish has allowed himself to be, he will be lucky if he even serves 8 years!
July 16, 2008 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BPFROM843 (anonymous) says...
he still got money stashed somewhere hello ANDY SAVAGE didnt even do private practice any more but he took his case so im sure for a pretty penny and i think his wife should be locked up to she obviously knew what was goin on
July 16, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ysillyme (anonymous) says...
Savage--now thats a strange name for a lawyer with such a prominent reputation. Wonder what he charges for a 58 in a 50? Any kin to Michael Savage?
July 16, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stephaniem (anonymous) says...
there is no need to investigate Andy Savage. Any lawyer will remind you that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Mr. Parish was accused of a crime when he hired Andy Savage and then found guilty. Mr. Savage's job was to ensure that he got a fair trial. If Mr. Savage was to take an appeal, questions could be raised to his character. However, there is no law against Mr. Parish's mother, cousin etc from paying attorney fees. People need to be reminded that any investment is a risky one until the bank insures it including mutual funds.
As for Mrs. Parish, she may not have known what her husband was doing. I know of many women including myself who use the credit card until it is declined. I was raised in a home where the female did the housekeeping and arts/crafts stuff and the male did the bills, car and home repair stuff. That is one of the reasons I ended up like I did.
July 16, 2008 at 8:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JourneyOn (anonymous) says...
I think he should have to stay in prison until he pays back all the money he ripped off from his victims. Just how many license plates will he have to make? At least 24 years worth. This is not a light crime. Armed robbery is going to take me for what is in my pocket. He didn't use a gun but took these people's life savings. Granted we all need to remember "buyer beware" and "there ain't no such thing as a free lunch" and "if it sounds too good to be true" but that does not give him the right to rip them off.
July 16, 2008 at 9:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
Posted by abitskeptical on July 16, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Quotes:
-- "Fraud in any instance is bad"
:
-- "The fraud takes on something more sinister when it is committed upon people whose names & faces & lives are so familiar to the "defrauder.""--
Kudos! I am very happy to see this opinion on Fraud.
July 17, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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