I just had pizza with my old landlord ( just served 4 years for grand theft auto)

[fastfredracing]

He is out on work release, and starting to put his life back together. It was interesting to hear of how all the pieces fell apart in the end, and who spilled the beans on who. He told me how one guy we know, fell to his knees , and started crying when they arrested him at work. I thanked him for not getting me involved. He sorted of hinted at what he was up to at one point in our relationship, and I made it clear that I was not interested. I remember asking him if he thought he would ever get caught. He honestly thought he never would, and the police used to sniff around his place when I was there 20 years ago. Every car he did , there was a paper trail leading right back to him. He ended up confessing to 26 counts of grand theft auto. All cool cars to, corvettes, GTO's Big Block dually's , SLP camaro, and Lots of trucks. I remember watching the news when he got arrested and they had all the cars lined up at the police impound yard , it was nuts, I had no idea he did so many. Quite a few people that I knew from the auto biz were involved in some form or another. I pat myself on the back daily for using good judgment as a young man.
Wanna know what finally tipped the apple cart over? An argument over a woman, led an old friend of his to drop a tip at the local pd. Who would have ever thought.
His antics were the main reason I moved out of his bldg, I was sure he would have been caught within a year of me leaving, but it went on for 13 more years before they finally had enough to arrest him.

[Steve Carlton]

I told him twice not to talk to Rachel.

[sammyg2]

you knew he was stealing cars for 13 years before he got caught, and now you are hanging out with a convicted felon.

Ya might wanna lighten up on the patting yourself on the back for "good judgement".

[herman maire]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

you knew he was stealing cars for 13 years before he got caught, and now you are hanging out with a convicted felon.

Ya might wanna lighten up on the patting yourself on the back for "good judgement".

I was kinda thinking the same thing

[Rick Lee]

He should still be in prison for that many cars. If I ever caught ANYONE effing with my car, I'd be the one going to prison.

[fastfredracing]

Oh yeah, what would you have done?. I moved into a bldg. was there for a few years , and then things started to get fishy. At the point that , I became 100% sure what was going on, I searched out, and moved to a different location, and put a ton of distance between me, and him, and severed our relationship, for self preservation reasons. I grew up with this guy. We were friends when we were younger.
The guy stopped up with a Pizza today, and sort of wanted to explain himself and he said that he has been making his rounds making apologies to people that he hurt. I have not spent any time around this guy for 17 years, and don't see myself hanging out with him in the future, but it was good to talk to him. Lighten up Francis!

[fastfredracing]

He never stole cars from people, they were all brand new, that still does not make it right, but fwiw....

[speeder]

This does beg the question of your implicit involvement via letting him get away with that. People like him are modern horse rustlers, lower than whale schit on the bottom of the ocean.

[fastfredracing]

Plus , judge me however the feek you want, this all went down when I was in my early 20's. I am 42 now

[Baz]

Freddie...good story. Unbelievable how anyone could twist this into something negative. It's a positive story any way you slice it.

It's the mistakes we make in our lives that help us to grow. Those who do not learn from their mistakes are destined to repeat them....

And we never stop learning......never.

Good luck to your friend - I hope he gets his life back in order.

Cheers,
Baz

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

I told him twice not to talk to Rachel.

Yes, but my phone sure has been quiet since Rachel entered the witness protection program.

[Hard-Deck]

Uh, right. I was a witness against my brother AS SOON as I knew he was a criminal. You made distance and turned your back on bad judgement and immoral acts. And now you eat pizza with him. Strange days my friends.

you knew he was stealing cars for 13 years before he got caught, and now you are hanging out with a convicted felon.



Ya might wanna lighten up on the patting yourself on the back for "good judgement".

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

He should still be in prison for that many cars. If I ever caught ANYONE effing with my car, I'd be the one going to prison.

It's only a car. Plus, that's what insurance is for.

[Hard-Deck]

I was 22 when I witnessed against my brother and he went to jail. I'm now 43.

I hope you have learned much.

Plus , judge me however the feek you want, this all went down when I was in my early 20's. I am 42 now

[Laneco]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

Plus , judge me however the feek you want, this all went down when I was in my early 20's. I am 42 now

Not everyone is judging you Fred - just suggesting you be careful. You're 20 years older and wiser now than you were when you saw the writing on the wall the first time. If there's a problem again, you'll pick up on it a whole lot quicker and steer an even wider berth away from him.

As far as the crime goes - yeah - definately a crime, definately earned every second of the time. Class "A" significant long term screw up. Some people do their time, and come out with their head on straight. He could be one - I hope that he is.

Sometimes we forget that unless there is a belief in forgiveness and the ability for a person to choose a different path, then realistically, we can't believe in jail as punishment. If there is no hope of forgiveness and no chance the person will ever choose another path - then I guess we would have to execute all criminals.

Besides, I would much rather associate with a convicted grand theft auto thief (who has chosen a better path) than some @$##$%% wall street/mortage lender/whatever thief who never did a second of time. I've had cars stolen. Either the insurance company paid them off or I bit the bullet and did it myself. As far as the drop in value in my house and decimation of my retirement went, I'll spend about 15 years correcting that. Every broken window, stolen car, stolen stereos, wheels, etc., combined are merely a fraction of what the "white collar" thieves have taken.

GRRR! sorry for going off on a tangent...

angela

[mossguy]

Nicely written. You are a kind and wise woman, Angela, and I am proud to have this Pelican connection with you. I agree with you about the white collar crime but unfortunately, I doubt that I will have fifteen years to correct it. Still, it could have been worse.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Laneco

Besides, I would much rather associate with a convicted grand theft auto thief (who has chosen a better path) than some @$##$%% wall street/mortage lender/whatever thief who never did a second of time.

Gee, I was a mortgage lender once and I haven't done any time. Are you suggesting they're all criminals? How did you buy your first house?

[Joeaksa]

Fred, you need to go to this thread:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/650364-ex-wives-so-bat-chit-crazy.html

[RWebb]

who paid for the pizza?

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Gee, I was a mortgage lender once and I haven't done any time.

Are you suggesting YOU'RE SMARTER THAN HIM BECAUSE YOU GOT AWAY WITH IT?