Weight Problems Slim Down Prison Sentence For Kruger Bag Man


by on May 23rd, 2012

Source: madamepsychosis/Flickr

While Carl Kruger has requested to be locked up in Otisville, a prison serving kosher meals and known as a haven for white collar criminals, the bag man responsible for funneling nearly $200,000 to the pol is getting his sentence slashed on account of his obesity.

Solomon Kalish was sentenced to two years in prison yesterday, half the standard for his deeds. The judge said his weight-related health problems was the deciding factor.

“I’m very mindful of Mr. Kalish’s health problems, and that in and of itself warrants a non-guidelines sentence,” said Judge Jed Rakoff, according to the New York Post.

Kalish, 62, weighs 270 pounds and suffers from diabetes and coronary-artery disease. He had open-heart surgery last year.

Kalish’s role in the bribery scheme that led to the conviction of Kruger, hospital execs, and a prominent lobbyist among others was that of the bag man. He brought $197,000 from the hospital execs to Kruger in exchange for favorable deals with Albany and a job for Kalish’s son in Kruger’s office.

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  • BayResident

    270 pounds?  Note to self – put on a few more pounds before taking bribes, and don’t worry, you’re already close.

  • ShadowLock

    the state should A. LipoSuction the bastard.  and B. Lock the fucker up for a Longer Time period….

    Weight should NOT be the reason why you get a shorter sentence….

    • Barkingspider07

      I guess it pays sometimes to be a chunky monkey.  He will lose alot of weight in jail because they will feed him enough just to keep him alive.  He won’t be diabetic anymore after that and hopefully they will extend his sentence.

      • BayResident

        This is not true. If he is in Otisville he will come back out just as big as he went in. I have a friend who did 3 years there and it is as good as a white collar resort can get. They eat enough. 

        • Barkingspider07

          Wow – I didn’t realize that any prison fed prisoners so well. I thouhgt it was like Rikers.  I know people who did time there, and they just about lived on a cheese sandwich for each meal.  They ate little and cheap.

          • BayResident

            Yeah, I wouldn’t want to be in Rikers either and the cheese sandwiches are a staple from what I’ve heard. But Forbes named Ottisville in its top 10 “cushiest” prisons. They feed inmates well and even have kosher meals.

            How well? “The prison’s store doubles as a delicatessen, serving up such favorites as rib steak, gefilte fish, salmon, chorizo and smoked oysters…  convicts could stay up until 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights watching HBO, Showtime and Cinemax.”Check out the article below. The point is, if you know you have enough pull to wind up in Ottisville, maybe taking a few nice bribes in exchange for a couple of years in this place isn’t so bad.

            http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120520/NEWS/205200324

  • http://www.brucebrodinsky.com Bruce B

    hmm, so heavy people now have more rights than me. If I commit the same exact crime under the same exact circumstances, I get a longer sentence.

    Add heavy people to the list of the various groups that have more rights than me. The list seems to grow every year.

  • Roma5645

    Just wondering how many men and women are overweight in prison. Nice to have friends in high places. If this were me or you the Judge wouldn’t give a hoot. Money talks S–t  like this get a pass. The poor in this country have not got a chance. this is what we have come to, guess we just have to accept the fact that politician’s and those that can and do favors will have the clout to get away with anything. 

  • Tom sheepsheadbay

    he should die in prison

  • Kool4Coney

    this is so WRONG!!!