When It All Falls Down
BY CLARENCE BARR, II
21 years. When someone hears that number in reference to a person’s prison sentence the first question they usually ask is, “who did they kill?”
It is a perfectly appropriate question considering common sense would dictate that any length of incarceration over 20 years should be reserved for the worst of the worst offenders in society. But, unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
When it comes to the federal government a 20-year sentence is close to the average for anyone who either didn’t cooperate, had the nerve to take them to trial, or simply pissed them off. That is why, when I received an email about Rashia “The First Lady” Wilson being hit with that amount of time for tax fraud and being a felon in possession of a firearm, it was a little surprising but not totally unexpected.
I say that because I knew it was only a matter of time before the feds found someone to make an example of in their quest to turn off the notorious “Drop” scheme that’s been a king sized thorn in their side. And it’s hard for me to imagine them wanting any other model for their “We’re not f—ing around” poster than the self-proclaimed Michelle Obama of tax scams.
The thing she didn’t realize is that it isn’t always about what you do. Sometimes it’s just about how you do it. And from the time Ms. Wilson decided to boast about her illegal activities on her Facebook page while daring the feds to indict her, there was little doubt that, sooner or later, her name and picture would be laminated and hung from a U. S. attorney’s wall.
What she did was the equivalent of robbing the biggest, meanest dude in the neighborhood without a mask and then driving away slowly while giving him the finger. Until this day I still don’t understand how she thought she was going to get away.
When you’re operating on the wrong side of the law the worst thing you can do is draw unnecessary attention. Thumbing your nose at the people who control the keys to cell blocks always ends badly. People like Nicky Barnes, John “Teflon Don” Gotti and Demetrious “Big Meech” Flenory all learned that lesson the hard way.
Now, unfortunately, “The First Lady” will have to add her name to the list of those who did it big but ultimately fell under the weight of their own success and ego. I just hope for her mental sake that, when she thinks about the experience and what it cost her, she at least believes it was worth every minute she’ll now have to spend reminiscing on how she once had it when she was on the other side of the fence.
Anyone wanting to contact Clarence Barr can reach him at: Clarence Barr, II, 43110-018; P. O. Box 7007; Marianna, FL 32447-7007. Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bulletin Publishing Company.
