Yes, he did, but after:
> All I asked for in return was a subpoena or immunity. They said no.
I wonder realistically how long can you drag this out as a whistleblower? How many times can you say "I'll give you these people if you don't charge me", especially when your document stash is well hidden.
I'm pretty OK with that precedent!
"Bank exec blew a whistle his company and got 3 years in minimum security prison. By coincidence he also got a lot of money afterwards."
Basically unless the whole story the whistleblower reported was fabricated, I don't think there's any situation where I'd be ok with the whistleblower being the only one jailed. As part of a larger group - sure, maybe.
Otherwise what's the point of whistleblowing? It would only work if you hate the company more than you like your current life. Or if you knew how to do it anonymously.
The thing I like about the precedent? That banking executives need to be on their toes because all of their colleagues have an immense incentive to rat them out.
So, he's still a piece of shit that doesn't give a damn about tax evasion doing it solely for himself. He got a great reward in the process anyway despite it backfiring a bit. Like you said above, I think it's probably a good trade so long as it didn't screw up his head in there. :)
1) Deserved the money
2) Did not deserve prison.
You can't equate those.
Although, they're doing what their country makes a lot of money on. So maybe heroes of private industry over there. ;)
Prosecutors were extremely reluctant to prosecute the oligarch and didn't want him in jail. However they were pretty vigorous with his banker!
Mind you, it's possible he plead guilty to what seems (to me) as vaguely absurd charges to avoid a much harsher penalty for the diamond smuggling and such.
EDIT: On further thought, I'd go for much less, I think. It's really just a comparison the money offered against A) the amount I'd expect to earn in those 3 years, B) expected loss of lifetime income due to the time lost and/or resulting stigmas, and C) personal discomfort/inconvenience of the lockup time.
Hard to figure the latter two, but I expect even half a million would tip the balance in my case.
I also think your question can be generalized.
Waiting for the train, you hear the announcement "an uptown A train is 4 minutes away from west 4th st." "What if these are the last 4 minutes of my life?"
Waiting at a red light, looking at the countdown clock in the other direction: "What if these are the last three seconds of my life"?
I've buried enough people in their middle age by now to not take the next three years for granted.
You can't take it with you.
Look at it as getting paid $6,000 an hour to read books for three years. Not the worst gamble someone my age could take.
Think of it like a three-year, $100 million sabbatical "upstate." That is enough time to read through the great books. Room and board are covered and there is a commissary for personal items.
Remember: the premise here is that once you do your bit, you're set for life.
Personally, I'd stick to the PowerBall for a get rich quick dream.