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Mandatory jail time for fraud vs. taxpayers? Absolutely

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Epic fraud, epic prison term. 

That sounds about right. 

California Rep. Ken Calvert this week announced a bill to require prison time of at least one year for fraud involving between $1 million and $5 million, and at least five years for fraud exceeding $5 million.

Good: Mandatory prison time for fraudsters is a sound idea.

While the federal government does impose minimum sentences for some forms of fraud, schemes that target federal health-care programs –– i.e., many cases in the news today –– generally don’t carry minimum jail terms.

Such minimums would give the feds another tool in the fight against fraud.

Mandatory jail time would ensure consequences, deliver some measure of justice, and boost deterrence for would-be grifters going forward.

No longer would brazen thieves plunder taxpayers with so little fear of repercussions that they scarcely cover their........

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