Rajaratnam's Health And Its Impact on His Prison Sentence

I knew a guy who went to federal prison who was told by his lawyer that there was a chance he could get him out on a “health waiver”.  When the guy showed up to prison in Edgefield, SC, he noticed a blind inmate being pushed in a wheelchair by another with a cane.  The duo was heading to their doctor appointment and it was then that the newest inmate knew he would not be leaving any time soon.
Raj Rajaratanam, c0-founder of Galleon Group, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 13th for his role in the massive insider-trading case brought in the Southern District of New York by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.  The government is seeking up to 24 years in prison, which could amount to a life sentence for the 54-year-old Rajaratnam who, his lawyers say, is already in poor health.  The government is not buying it and have asked for Raj’s medical records. So could Raj’s health play a part in the judge giving a more lenient sentence?  Probably not.
Prisons provide healthcare to inmates under their charge.  There is a physician, a mental health professional (not always a psychiatrist), a dentist and usually a nurse at each federal prison.  When the expertise for professionals on-site is not enough, inmates are taken to local health facilities for medical procedures, follow-up exams and testing….just like anyone else.  Inmates receive open heart surgery, appendectomies, repair of broken limbs, dialysis, chemo-therapy….you name it.  According to an Office of the Inspector General, the Bureau of Prisons spent $736 million on healthcare for inmates held in federal custody during 2007.  In fact, the healthcare of inmates is better than some who are not incarcerated, which led one man in North Carolina to rob a bank with a motive of going to prison in order to get the medical treatment he needed.
Unless Raj has some terminal disease that is likely to take his life within a year, then I do not see any leniency at sentencing coming his way.  But it was a good try.
Others caught in the insider-trading scandals have used other tactics for leniency.  Zvi Goffer, also from Galleon Group and found guilty of insider-trading in a related case, spoke of how important it was to be there for his children….he got 10 years.  Goffer’s brother, Emanuel who was also convicted at trial, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 7.  Emanuel is looking for a lighter sentence based on being there for his 3-year-old son who isn’t meeting, “age appropriate gross motor milestones.”  The government wants a sentence of 46-57 months in his case.
These men are in the fight of their lives, but there are many people in prison with health and family issues.  Bad news for these guys is that these issues rarely work in reducing years in prison….good news is, they’ll be well taken care of.

original source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/walterpavlo/2011/09/30/rajaratnams-health-and-its-impact-on-his-prison-sentence/