Air National Guard colonel gets probation for theft because of his 'exemplary life'
By Brian Bowling
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Published: November 17, 2015
PITTSBURGH (Tribune News Service) — A former Air National Guard colonel who stole between $30,000 and $70,000 from the Air Force will spend three years on probation including one year on home confinement, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.
Gerard J. Mangis, 61, of Shaler pleaded guilty in July to conspiring to defraud the government. He conspired with a civilian contractor, Robert St. Clair, 51, of Bel Air, Md., who also pleaded guilty and is serving a two year sentence of probation.
Mangis had little to say during the hearing beyond thanking his family and friends for their support. His attorney, Charles Porter, argued that Mangis deserved leniency for leading an otherwise exemplary life and serving his country for more than 30 years.
“Did he do wrong? Yes, there's no doubt,” Porter said. “Did he do a lot of good? Absolutely.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Melucci argued that not sending Mangis to prison would be an affront to all the people in the military who serve their country without stealing from it.
“You can't wash away your crimes simply by performing charitable acts,” he said.
U.S. District Judge Gustave Diamond disagreed, saying that Mangis was unlikely to commit future crimes and he believes that a “person who has led an exemplary life is entitled to something.”
He ordered Mangis to spend the first year of probation on house arrest, but allowed him to leave his house for work, religious services and doctor visits. Diamond also sentenced Mangis to 100 hours of community service with a focus on charities that help military families and ordered him to pay restitution in an amount that will be determined later.
http://www.stripes.com/news/us/air-national-guard-colonel-gets-probation-for-theft-because-of-his-exemplary-life-1.379365
