Former Fairbanks Mayor Jim Hayes and his wife to 5 1/2 and 3 years in federal prison
jerry
his wife to 5 1/2 and 3 years in federal prison, respectively, for
stealing from social-service grants between 2001 and 2005.
In handing down a longer sentence for the former three-term mayor than
wife Murilda "Chris" Hayes, District Judge John Sedwick rejected
suggestions from both that she had been the one responsible for the
crimes while he should receive leniency.
“I think Mr. Hayes has done more harm than he realizes to this
community and his church,” Sedwick said.
The Hayeses will likely be asked to report to prison within four to
six weeks, Sedwick estimated. He recommended that prison system
officials send Chris Hayes, who a psychiatrist said has suffered from
depression, to a jail in Spokane, Wash. to keep her close to Alaska.
A jury convicted the former three-term city mayor in February of
working with his wife to siphon close to $450,000 from the grants.
Federal investigators had traced the money to personal purchases and
to an over-budget construction project at a church — where Jim Hayes
served as pastor — across the street from Chris Hayes’ tutoring
center, which had originally received the grants.
from:
http://www.newsminer.com/news/2008/may/02/hayeses-sentenced-jim-5-12-chris-3-years/
my comments:
I knew Jim Hayes when he worked for the Attorney General's Office. He
is a good man. He did many good things for Fairbanks as Mayor, too. I
think he should be pardoned by President Bush and am writing a letter
for that. $450,000 is miniscule compared to what goes on in government
and in war. I ask any of you this; did Jim Hayes and his wife do any
real evil? Did they hurt anyone? They were victims of mismanagement of
funds, something that all of us have done at one time or another. I
simply do not see the punishment fitting the crime. I think also if
the Hayes had the money to hire a very good attorney they would have
been found not guilty and set free. But they are black and poor and
have received a severe punishment for a relatively insignificant
crime.
jerry
> A judge Friday morning sentenced former Fairbanks Mayor Jim Hayes and
> his wife to 5 1/2 and 3 years in federal prison, respectively, for
> stealing from social-service grants between 2001 and 2005.
>
> In handing down a longer sentence for the former three-term mayor than
> wife Murilda "Chris" Hayes, District Judge John Sedwick rejected
> suggestions from both that she had been the one responsible for the
> crimes while he should receive leniency.
>
> “I think Mr. Hayes has done more harm than he realizes to this
> community and his church,” Sedwick said.
>
> The Hayeses will likely be asked to report to prison within four to
> six weeks, Sedwick estimated. He recommended that prison system
> officials send Chris Hayes, who a psychiatrist said has suffered from
> depression, to a jail in Spokane, Wash. to keep her close to Alaska.
>
> A jury convicted the former three-term city mayor in February of
> working with his wife to siphon close to $450,000 from the grants.
> Federal investigators had traced the money to personal purchases and
> to an over-budget construction project at a church — where Jim Hayes
> served as pastor — across the street from Chris Hayes’ tutoring
> center, which had originally received the grants.
>
>
> my comments:
> I knew Jim Hayes when he worked for the Attorney General's Office. He
> is a good man. He did many good things for Fairbanks as Mayor, too. I
> think he should be pardoned by President Bush and am writing a letter
> for that. $450,000 is miniscule compared to what goes on in government
> and in war. I ask any of you this; did Jim Hayes and his wife do any
> real evil? Did they hurt anyone? They were victims of mismanagement of
> funds, something that all of us have done at one time or another. I
> simply do not see the punishment fitting the crime. I think also if
> the Hayes had the money to hire a very good attorney they would have
> been found not guilty and set free. But they are black and poor and
> have received a severe punishment for a relatively insignificant
> crime.
I posted my comments at the news miner site and one poster said the
Hayeses live in a 1/2 million dollar home in Doyon Estates and have a
$250,000 cabin at Harding Lake. They posted the link to the FNSB
property database to prove their point. I guess that is supposed to
mean they are not poor. But just about anyone can buy property and
make payments, but that does not mean they are rich.
jerry
>
> - Show quoted text -
I drove out to Doyon Estates and took a look at 2601 Chief Alexander
Drive. The Hayeses live(d) in a very fine home. I then looked up the
Hayeses' property in the FNSB database and see it is appraised at
$480,000. There is a $372,000 mortgage with Mt.McKinley bank dated
2003. The taxes are about $9,000 a year or about $750 a month. Added
to the mortgage payment that must be about $3,250 a month. The Hayeses
have been living beyond their means, for sure. Then there is their
property at Harding Lake appraised at over $200,000. But what about
our Representative, Don Young? I hear he has a million dollar home
somewhere in the East. Then there is Ted Stevens with his homes.
Apparently it pays to be a politician.
By Fairbanks standards I was wrong in saying the Hayeses are poor,
they are not poor and have been livng high on the hog for some time.
About the only people that can afford living like this are Doctors,
crooked Lawyers, Dentists (for sure), and very successful business
persons. A minister and mayor certainly cannot afford living like
this.