Wendy Weiner Runge Sentenced To 10 Years

Judge Douglas Staskal criticized the head of Polynation Pictures before sentencing her for attacking prosecutors and judges in public statements she has made, while blaming her plight on antisemitism and “some sort of political conspiracy.” He said the sentence was a difficult decision to make for a woman with no prior criminal history, but he could not ignore the “complete arrogant and defiant” way in which she had denied responsility for her crime.

 

 

Filmmaker Wendy Weiner Runge sentenced to 10 years
LEE ROOD • Des Moines Register

Wendy Weiner Runge tried to appear contrite Tuesday morning as she faced sentencing for fraud, telling a judge she was truly sorry for deceiving the state while trying to make movies in Iowa.

But outside the Polk County courtroom, the Minnesota filmmaker has been defiant about her culpability in Iowa’s long-running film tax-incentive debacle — a move that got the 46-year-old mother of four a 10-year sentence in Mitchellville women’s prison.

Judge Douglas Staskal criticized the head of Polynation Pictures before sentencing her for attacking prosecutors and judges in public statements she has made, while blaming her plight on antisemitism and “some sort of political conspiracy.”

He said the sentence was a difficult decision to make for a woman with no prior criminal history, but he could not ignore the “complete arrogant and defiant” way in which she had denied responsility for her crime.

“This is a case in my judgment that calls out for the court to send a message to you and others who would engage in this kind of behavior that it’s not accepted, that it’s criminal and it will not be tolerated,” Staskal said.

Staskal’s comments jolted the novice filmmaker, who had showed little emotion during much of her week-and-a-half-long trial in February. She wept quietly Tuesday in a corner of the second-floor courtroom before being ushered out by her attorney, Matthew Whitaker.

Whitaker said he had not decided whether to appeal, adding: “We are still weighing our options.”

Runge, an Omaha native, decided to accept a plea agreement proferred by prosecutors after both sides rested in her February trial. The first-degree fraudulent practices charge to which she pleaded guilty did not apply to “The Scientist,” a 2008 film that received $1.85 million in state tax credits.

Rather, she admitted she made false statements to procure tax credits for two uncompleted movies called “Forever” and “Run” before Iowa’s film program was suspended in late 2009.

But Runge hedged when she appeared before Staskal to accept that deal in court, saying she was “directed to do so by Tom Wheeler,” head of the Iowa Film Office at the time. And in her ongoing blog about the case against her, she has repeatedly denied doing anything criminal and professed to be a victim of malicious prosecution and misconduct by state officials.

Staskal scolded her for playing the victim Tuesday, saying “there was nothing muddying the water” in her case and said she was neither sincere nor genuine.

Runge’s plea was the third in connection with the scandal that engulfed the fledgling film incentive program a year and a half ago, leading to the firings or resignations of six state economic development managers. Two of her former partners who were more cooperative with prosecutors received much lighter sentences Tuesday before Staskal.

Matthias Saunders, a pivotal player in Polynation’s deals with the state, received an up to 10-year suspended sentence for first-degree theft and two years probation, meaning he will stay out of prison if he complies with the terms of his release.

Saunders, 39, who has been living in Georgia, ran a company called Maximux Production Services, and profited from services his company provided that prosecutors said were highly inflated or didn’t exist.

Chase Brandau, 26, also of Minnesota, received a deferred sentencing for second-degree theft. He will be able to wipe the felony from his record if he successfully completes to two years of probation. All three will have to pay restitution to the state, the amounts of which have not yet been determined.

Thomas H. Miller, who prosecuted the Polynation partners on behalf of the Attorney General’s Office, said lack of remorse is not typically an overriding factor in such sentencings, but Runge showed none.

“We feel the dispositions were entirely appropriate and that justice was done,” he said. “Those who pleaded early received appropriate leniency.”

Comments

[steve]

Like SMR, she made her own bed and now she has to sleep in it.

[WoolSilkCotton]

“complete arrogant and defiant” à la Rubashkin.

[Loshon Hora]

She is a Charedi?
Or became a BT after the crime?
So that paints a bad view of all cahreidim, in FM rascist anti-chareidi or anything to do with Chareidi agenda.
Yet if a Chareidi will answer yiou she is anew BT the Chareidi becomes a racist.
I guess when there is a hate agenda there is no rational & never will be on this world.

[seymour]

when are the frum going to learn ultra Orthodox = innocent only applies in their community.

and if you get caught at least do not act so arrogant and always claim antisemitism.

Don't they teach anything in Yeshiva or beais yakov anymore?

I think all yeshiva and beias Yakov should have a class or course

"What to do when you get caught scamming* and committing fanatical crimes*"

*there is no need to have a course, not to scam or commit financial crimes since scamming and financial crimes as defined by secular courts are not against halacha and Torah law and values . In addition we feel it is permitted and completely acceptable by our leaders.

what is scamming that would be a scam per halach. That would be a married woman who has her own hair but makes it look like she is wearing a wig and goes outside.

that is a scam that can harm the whole Jewish nation. seeing such a tuma can lead to Orthodox males to commit grave sins.

For example a woman did make her hair look like a sheteil and took a walk in the streets. The tumha for seeing uncovered hair rendered the men helpless and they actually moved to the side to make room for a woman to go by. May god have pity on the souls on those men

[seymour]

She is a Charedi?
Or became a BT after the crime?
So that paints a bad view of all cahreidim, in FM rascist anti-chareidi or anything to do with Chareidi agenda.
Yet if a Chareidi will answer yiou she is anew BT the Chareidi becomes a racist.
I guess when there is a hate agenda there is no rational & never will be on this world.

Posted by: Loshon Hora | May 17, 2011 at 06:50 PM
no, because it is becoming acceptable behavior for the frum.

Their is no shame in the community when one get caught in these crimes and ther will be a campaign soon to get this tzetakis out of prison

[Shmarya]

She is a Charedi?
Or became a BT after the crime?
So that paints a bad view of all cahreidim, in FM rascist anti-chareidi or anything to do with Chareidi agenda.
Yet if a Chareidi will answer yiou she is anew BT the Chareidi becomes a racist.
I guess when there is a hate agenda there is no rational & never will be on this world.

Posted by: Loshon Hora | May 17, 2011 at 06:50 PM

I know her.

She and her family have been haredi for at least 10 years, and frum for many, many years before that.

[Loshon Hora]

Seymour.
Get a life when did this lady learn in Yeshiva? which Yeshiva? When did she become frum.
I guess if a guy becomes a BT in jail, the chareidim are responsible for his crimes, taht got him into jail, because after all he is now a chareidi.
I bet you that you cheat taxes I doubt you are honest, not from the way you post here.& probably cheat on your wife, because you have no Torah to forbid that.
If not how would you know others do that, it takes one to know one. Yet you are trying to self justify yourself, and look for any bad in a Chareidi Jew.
A chareidi Jew has a life style passed down for generations, there is reason to change it.How many generations are you a fryer secular? Are you smarter than previous generations? Maybe you come from apes?
You hatred shows you self guilt, get a life become honest, and stop putting your bad on others.

[Abracadabra]

So, where is Pinny Lipshits? When is the Tehillim rally? Which "gedolim" will be speaking at the "asifa"? And please tell me which for-profit Public Relations company is going to "take her case", feed the frum news media custom tailored misinformation, and get paid by the lawyers under the table who want to keep fighting this case but can only do so if tzedakah money comes flowing in from the false PR reports fed to the frum media?

And most importantly, who should I write my check out to?

This is obviously a case of pidyon shevuyim if there ever was one. I mean, how can you imprison a frum woman? Does she really deserve to be in prison? So she committed a crime, told the judge she is sorry, while publically telling the rest of the world she is not sorry. Is that so terrible? I mean - she is a frum eishes chayil - that is the most important thing!

This poor eishes chayil was trying to make a parnosa to support her frum bayis ne'eman b'yisrael and the government has the nerve to imprison her for criminal behavior? It's blantant anti-Semitism!

And please don't forget to donate for the husband and kids while their main breadwinner is nebuch languishing in a goyish jail.

This is clearly a tzedakah case that should come before every other tzedaka pleas that come your way (except, of course, Rubashkin's).

[Yes, it's sarcastic. I just had to say it before the lunatics do.]

[neighbor girl]

Does anyone have a link to her blog?

[steve]

Matzav/Al Jazeera will surely be attacking the "anti-semitic" judge who sentenced this tzadekes and baalas chesed to such a harsh sentence. The chillul hashem never ends. Shame on her for playing the race card. It came back to bite her and she caused a chillul hashem at the same time. Stupid!

[seymour]

loshon hora

You can attack me with baseless lies I am dealing with facts and true stories.
I do not had frummies I hate frummies who lie and cheat and their apologists who seem never to admit frummie did anything wrong.
If you guys would man up, we would have nothing to criticize and more importantly less of the frummies would do such action since it would bring shame to their families.

"I bet you that you cheat taxes I doubt you are honest, not from the way you post here.& probably cheat on your wife, because you have no Torah to forbid that."

not sure how you can tell if I cheat of my taxes or my wife which would be hard to do since I am single.

and now I know where you are coming from

you actually think that one cannot be moral unless one follows the torah. That is what all religions say as to why people needs to be religious.
One needs just to study history that many atrocities were committed by very religious groups including Jews.
One needs to read the Torah to see how many nations god said to wipe out every man woman and child and animal.

I know it is moral and ethical because god told you to do it. really what happened a guy who said he spoke to god told you god said to do it.

why don't you just deal with the ssues that their seems to be an epidemic of crime in the herdie community and no one os dealing with it, since it is all lies

[peter]

Dina Wein is smarter, she accepted a deal and will get only 3 years.

[Abracadabra]

When they have the asifa to raise pidyon shevuyim to free her, I hope the gedoiylim who speak will offer Klal Yisruel "divrei chizuk". We need divrei chizuk in these challenging times - when a frum Yid never knows when he could get caught for defrauding the government which our Toiyra says is mutar l'chol hadaiyos when it's from a goiyishe medineh.

There is simply no other way to pay for the sheitels, yuntif food, chasunas, and tuition. Anyway, the government is anti-Semitic because they wont give Yidden money for tuition. They give the goyim money for tuition! We are also citizens and should get it too! It's blatant achzuriyus by the govt to deny it to us, and we have no choice but to defraud the govt. But even more importantly - doing so is a mitzvah because it's for Toiyreh, and nothing is more important than Toiyreh. If our kinderlach weren't in yeshiva learning Toiyreh, zicher the whole oiylam would stop turning! We are doing them a favor! You see - it's an oiylam hafuch. And if they target us for committing fraud against the govt for tuition, then it's proof that they are anti-Semitin just like it says in our heiligeh Toiyreh - Aiysav soiyneh es Yaakov.

This is why we need divrei chizuk from our gedoiylim when these terrible things happen like a frum eishes chayil being imprisoned.

Here is proof - the goiyim who did the same crimes didn't get jailtime, only the frum woman! What difference does it make that she denied wrongdoing and refused a plea bargain until the 11th hour? What difference does it make that she made a blog accusing the prosecutors and government of fraud and denied wrongdoing or regret while at the same time telling the judge she is sorry?

Anyway - the whole concept of government is a fraud - only Hashem is the true Melech Malchei Ham'lachim.

Oiy, I need chizuk from the gedoiylim. Please tell me when the asifa is.

I'll say tehillim in the meantime....

[WoolSilkCotton]

You can count on Loshon Hora, Deremes, and our usual frumma apologists to proclaim her innocence.

The judge must be an antisemite, right Loshon Hora?

Unlike you Loshon Hora, and your fellow frumma, normal people do not lie cheat or steal, because it is against the law. You do not believe in the law. The American law is for goyem, right?

Everything on my income taxes is backed up with receipts and documents. That is the law. My accountant insists on it. Do frumma accountants require documents and receipts from frumma clients?

Unlike you, I do not consider lying, cheating, or stealing. Religion makes you MORE likely to steal, NOT less likely, because you arrogantly think that God permits you to do whatever you please.

Religion is used to justify all criminal behavior.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Loshon Hora, why is it that every time a frummer or frumma is caught stealing, you wonder why I won't stick up for them?

Even when Ryan Braun is caught stealing, I abide by the umpire's decision.

[seymour]

"A chareidi Jew has a life style passed down for generations, there is reason to change it.How many generations are you a fryer secular? Are you smarter than previous generations? Maybe you come from apes?
You hatred shows you self guilt, get a life become honest, and stop putting your bad on others.

Posted by: Loshon Hora | May 17, 2011 at 07:14 PM

I have more knowledge than previous generation not because I am smarter just simply I can build on their knowledge and their experiences and improve.

But guy like you cannot learn, since it has been perfected by previous generation.

apes really if you read this blog you would know we came from fish. And I am proud of it it shows we have a capacity to expand and become smarter and better beings and great thing are ahead for humanity as we evolve

and if you think the previous generation would be happy the way cherediem act now you realy have a screw loose. the baal shev tov was an honest man and never would have approved any type of scam. cheating for section 8 and or even cheating to get money for a yeshiva form learning torah.
he would probably rip his cloth and cry if he sees what is being done to his legacy.

also i am sure he would say, what the fuck are you wearing a fur hat and all that hor clothing in the summer in the heat. I only wore that in Poland because is was fucking cold

[Jay]

According to Loshon Horah, who apparently loves to spread loshon horoh, anyone who doesn't follow his interpretation of Torah is inevitably going to be a cheat and an adulterer. What a narrow, ignorant, bigoted, racist mind you have.

[jancsipista]

seymour- hahahaha youre the best.

[ah-pee-chorus]

Abracadabra -
thats so spot on its almost NOT funny.
i had lined up some gedolim and bochrim to speak and daven in her honor. unfortunately rabbi kassin was too busy clearing his name from some anti-semitic smear, the spinka was in the clinka, and these two wonderful satmar boys got held up in some customs snafu in japan.
my last hope is that the lubavitcher rebbe will show up.

[seymour]

Religion is used to justify all criminal behavior.

Posted by: WoolSilkCotton | May 17, 2011 at 07:49 PM

that is i think the real issue. or issue that bothers many of us. Sometimes people do wrong or bad things for various reason. they know they are doing something wrong, but say whatever and do it anyway. they do not cloak there misbehavior in religious acceptable behavior and claiming it is 100% legal and ethical what i did at least from a halcha point of view .

I think is was an interview with a mafia guy, who said a priest told him why don't you come to confession and confess your crimes so god can forgive you.

He said he told the priest, you think I am that stupid after all I did all i got to do is confess my sins and god will forgive me. Please I am not that stupid.

At least he know he was doing wrong, not so with many herideim, they give excuses like I only stole to expand torah learning

[seymour]

Loshon Hora, why is it that every time a frummer or frumma is caught stealing, you wonder why I won't stick up for them?

Even when Ryan Braun is caught stealing, I abide by the umpire's decision.

Posted by: WoolSilkCotton | May 17, 2011 at 07:54 PM

innocent people get convicted sometimes

however with the frumma they are not guilty not because they verdict was wrong they are innocent because they are frum and even if they did steal the goyim have no right to judge them and only hashenm, or sanhedrein can do anything and since sanhedrein does not exist that only leaves hashen to judge them

[Loshon Hora]

She is a Charedi?
Or became a BT after the crime?
So that paints a bad view of all cahreidim, in FM rascist anti-chareidi or anything to do with Chareidi agenda.
Yet if a Chareidi will answer yiou she is anew BT the Chareidi becomes a racist.
I guess when there is a hate agenda there is no rational & never will be on this world.

Posted by: Loshon Hora | May 17, 2011 at 06:50 PM
no, because it is becoming acceptable behavior for the frum.

Their is no shame in the community when one get caught in these crimes and ther will be a campaign soon to get this tzetakis out of prison

Posted by: seymour | May 17, 2011 at 07:08 PM

"YOU ARE AN OUTRIGHT LIAR" I am a chareidi, everyone knows Dina demalchusa dina. Everyone knows it is not only a crime, but a chilul hashem on top of a crime. You from the outside decide it is a norm.How dare you draw such conclusions all based on hate.
How many percent of chareidim committed crimes compared with any other society?
Would you help your brother with legal fees if he messed up, and could sit a long time?
If he needs the best lawyers, would you do your best to help?
All Chareidim are brothers when it comes to helping one another, and that is something you can not stand.
Helping someone with legal fees doesn't condone their actions, & all are innoecent until proven guilty.

[WoolSilkCotton]

"...the baal shev tov...i am sure he would say, what the fuck are you wearing a fur hat and all that hor clothing in the summer in the heat. I only wore that in Poland because is was fucking cold..."

Seymour, that is hysterical!

[Abracadabra]

"Hey baby," begins the communication from Polynation Pictures chief Wendy Weiner Runge in the message to partner Matthias Saunders. A producer for the film "The Scientist," Saunders ran a company that was supposed to provide equipment for the 2008 film. "I need a final Maximus ... invoice TOMORROW MORNING for $2.3 million in an odd, round number," Runge wrote. "Add it all up ... and make it look pretty."

Hey baby - here's the article:

http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2011/02/smoking-gun-email-from-haredi-filmmaker-wendy-weiner-runge-may-seal-her-fate-567.html

[Loshon Hora]

WSC, I would like to inspect your books.
Unlike you I have never taken any program in the US I always file & pay my taxes, & I have never cheated anyone.
& as for you Seymour if you need to use the F word over & over, I know what a vulgar piece of work you are, smarter than your parents & forefathers.
Not only are you decended from an ape you are an ape in my opinion.

[WoolSilkCotton]

I heard a story from many years ago, that a frummer crook was out on bail and went to the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Brooklyn for advice.

The Rebbe told him to shave his beard and put away the yarmulke, so he would not cause a Hillul Hashem when he went to trial.

Today? A rabbi would tell him to carry a portrait of the Rebbe into the courtroom.

[Abracadabra]

APC - I love it!! LOL!! Great!!

[seymour]

WSC, I would like to inspect your books.
Unlike you I have never taken any program in the US I always file & pay my taxes, & I have never cheated anyone.
& as for you Seymour if you need to use the F word over & over, I know what a vulgar piece of work you are, smarter than your parents & forefathers.
Not only are you decended from an ape you are an ape in my opinion.

Posted by: Loshon Hora | May 17, 2011 at 08:28 PM

Funny, I remember a frunm guy who cheated me and the insurance company out of thousands of dollars. When i confronted him he was shocked that I used nefeil pea about what he did.
That bothered him stealing did not.

Oh well he finally got caught and spend a few years in jail where i guess he heard nefil pea every day.

whether the baal shem would curse or not I do not know but that would be his reaction I am sure. Or say something similar in Polish or Yiddish.

Like bist dee gonzen fardraeit

is that better

interesting as usual you do not deal with the real issue why is that mode of dress something that is holy when it just was the mode in a cold country.

what if tyeh baal shem tov grew up in Mexico would your only wear summer cloth in the winter?

I did not curse the baal shem tov did

anyway sometimes a curse is the best way to express yourself.

And I know I come from apes so did every other human.

[seymour]

loson horo

you are, smarter than your parents & forefathers.

again a lie

I said I have more knowledge than them not smarter then

just like any science grad has more knowledge than many great scientist from previous generation.

yet they still feel those previous scientist where smart and great.

I know herideim cannot comprehend that

[WoolSilkCotton]

Loshon Hora, if you want to help your brother who committed a crime, it is not always a good idea to automatically get him off the hook. You are just enabling him to commit more crimes. He will learn nothing, because he knows his brother is a sucker who will bail him out every time.

I would give him the number of a good lawyer, and tell him to keep his mouth shut in the meanwhile, but I'm not going to be his enabler.

[Dave]

Seymour, hilarious post about what the Baal Shem Tov would say !

[Loshon Hora]

You know you are a liar, not smarter more knowledge. I guess someone with more knowledge is less smart in your opinion. Well what could I expect from a vulgar ape afterall?
Again you evade the topiv above I mentioned my view on theft and if committed by a chareidi it was worse because of chilul Hashem you missed that I guess it was on purpose.
You have to spew your hate agenda.
Then to justify your vulgar posts you attcack me that I am evading the point.
You lie again, to justify yourself and badmouth the Chareidi. I never condoned scams or theft, I did condem your hate lies & vulgarity.
I wait the day you go out in handcuffs, and because you may once have had something to do with chareidim [of course no if you are an alias for Shmayah himself, which I sometimes suspect, but I think he has more class than you, unless he uses this allias to let go] you will be posted up here.
The only problems I have are I don't know who you are, and I guess I may get sick of this blog, or justice may be done to this blog B4 then.On the other hand they may just return you to your brothers in safari park.

[WoolSilkCotton]

"...my view on theft and if committed by a chareidi it was worse because of chilul Hashem..."

But Loshon Hora, according to you, the frumma criminals are always innocent, it's never their fault, so there is no Chilul Hashem.

What exactly do you mean by "smart" if a person has inadequate knowledge? A smart person tries his best to gain more knowledge, real knowledge from scientifically proven sources, and not rely on lies and bubba meinses from the past.
A smart person who does not pursue the best and most reliable sources of genuine knowledge is still an ignoramus.

All frumma think they are big geniuses who can outsmart anybody.

"justice may be done to this blog" What exactly does this mean? You want this blog destroyed because you cannot tolerate free speech? Gay koken.

[Loshon Hora]

WSc
"But Loshon Hora, according to you, the frumma criminals are always innocent, it's never their fault, so there is no Chilul Hashem."
You are an outright liar, look at all my posts, never have I ever posted that nor have I ever held that way.
You have proven your own dishonesty by this post [& many others]. Who are you to preach ethics to Chareidim.
I hope you get caught on your dishonesty, & then try to prove your innosence only to have it haunt you.
When that happens to you remember all your hate & lies over here.

[WoolSilkCotton]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110517/
us_yblog_thelookout/college-graduates-cheer-as-paralyzed-student-walks-to-get-degree-with-robotic-exoskeleton

Loshon Hora, you and your filthy frumma would laugh and mock what this video shows.

Smart people strive for genuine knowledge. Intelligent people apply that knowledge. Good people applaud that knowledge. Frumma people mock that knowledge.

[seymour]

On the other hand they may just return you to your brothers in safari park.

Posted by: Loshon Hora | May 17, 2011 at 08:57 PM

I love the safari park

thanks

[seymour]

Loshon Hora

dom you really think the baal shem tov would think it is normal to wear winter cloths during the summer just because he lived in a cold climate?

[WoolSilkCotton]

++Who are you to preach ethics to Chareidim.++

Somebody's got to.

++I hope you get caught on your dishonesty++

I obey the law. I sleep comfortably at night as a result.

[Simon Rose]

ten years seems steep maybe two

[Isa]

I know her
But I read her blog after she bled guilty and I thought 'she is in for it now'
The most important thing is the judge read her blog too!
But why have a blog? [because her ego is so huge?]She should have pled repentance, regret and all that.

[tooclose2detroit]

cant wait to see what kind of movie she makes about her years in prison with all those other ladies-o-i think ive seen it already.

[Isa]

Her blog has been removed.
Probably her lawyer stumbled onto it and had a panic attack so she removed it.
But not before the Judge read her blog.
Too little, too late.

[flailed]

abracadabra, you wave your magic wand and have us rolling.

[Loshon Hora]

++Who are you to preach ethics to Chareidim.++

Somebody's got to.

++I hope you get caught on your dishonesty++

I obey the law. I sleep comfortably at night as a result.

Posted by: WoolSilkCotton | May 17, 2011 at 09:22 PM
There are plenty sifei musar & halacha no one needs a laidigaier apikoiress proven liar like you to preach them ethics. You may at least try to practice what you preach.
As for you obeying the law maybe you self righteous guy thinks so, but if you doctor the law & your books like you doctored my post over here in public without shame the judge isn't going to think so.
I don't know how good the night's sleep will be in your jail cell,& definatly don't know how your eternal sleep will be if you are lucky enough to be accepted in hell.

[flailed]

Her blog may have been removed, but the riboinoi sheloylem is still rooting for her on the Chazak hotline. If you can stomach it, you can listen to Grungy Whiner "Zeva Rochel bas Chaya" at 718-258-2008.
Press options 3then 2 then 90#.

[Loshon Hora]

WSC
If a chareidi had been drinking & driving you wouldn't give them an exoskeleton & a second chance, you would be blogging how you wished they had died, and how happy you are about their injuries, and you hope they get a life sentance.
Where as a someone of a different faith & culture you forget their sin, & look at their achievments.
If I could only ask you for the same for your own brothers I guess that would be too much.
You have been proven a liar & now a racist too.
I don't wish you to rot in hell, you would be lucky if they accepted you over there.

[ah-pee-chorus]

tooclose2detroit-

thats funny!!..

[Yoel Mechanic]

A chareidi Jew has a life style passed down for generations, there is reason to change it.How many generations are you a fryer secular? Are you smarter than previous generations? Maybe you come from apes?
You hatred shows you self guilt, get a life become honest, and stop putting your bad on others.

Posted by: Loshon Hora | May 17, 2011 at 07:14 PM
-------------------------------------------
That's it!! I've had enough: you must be a plant whose purpose is to make frum yidden look bad. Your bad grammar must be a put on too.

[Levi]

To Seymour:

You're truly a sick person. I've been reading this blog for a little while and what I see is a clear hatred for any person who is charadi. When do you work? you post comments the whole day.

Let me make clear, there are definitely issues in the frum world, but I can promise you there are many more issues in the secular world (I happen to be Chabad but my parents are BT and I know enough about the secular world)But instead you don't stop attacking every individual in the frum community without any knowlege of the case. In your eyes, if someone is orthodox he is guilty until proven innocent. Another example, you guys can't get over the rubashkin case. I studied the case, and his 27 year sentence makes no sense! and people with MUCH more legal knowlege then you concure.

I can go on and on but I think I made my point. Oh yea...I forgot to mention there are only molesters in the orthodox community; the secular world doesn't have this. You guys are a pathetic joke.

PS: I would like to see what kind of coverage a frum murdeur would have on this website.

[Paul Marat]

So basically there are other persons who committed the same crime with no priors who received probation, but she got 10 years?

Isn't it is blatantly obvious that she was punished for expressing her freedom of speech.

I guess you're supposed to just bend over for them.

[Rubashkin Supporter]

B"H

Unfortunately like Pollard she got the MAXIMUM SENTENCE SHE CAN RECEIVE for the crime she committed.

You can argue that the others who pled guilty and are NOT going to jail were more contrite... I would argue that they are white gentiles and she is a Jew....

You can argue she got a harsher sentence because her blog wasn't showing enough remorse/repent talk... I would argue the Judge is a thin skinned individual who took personal offense because she didn't bow down to his ego filled black robe.

This is a bad day for the family and one more reason we need Moshiach Now.

[Abracadabra]

Paul - There were 2 others so far, and only one that also had a first degree offense (the other was a second degree). They both pleaded guilty right away and cooperated with the prosecution which is why they were granted extra leniency. Wendy claimed she was completely innocent and dragged the case into court until both her lawyer and the prosecutor rested their cases. Only then did she look for a plea. Dragging the thing through a whole trial defeats the purpose of a plea deal. The court wants to avoid the expense of a trial which they didn't get here. The only time (expense) they saved was the time the jury would have been deliberating. That is at most 1/10 of the time and expense of a trial (counting jury selection). She only took a plea after the trial didn't go well and she realized she was screwed. She probably thought a plea deal would get her fewer guilty verdicts than the jury would give her. Well, she may have been right, but you don't get leniency from copping a plea at the 11th hour. The guy who pleaded guity right away got leniency as he should have. Too bad she didn't think of doing that before declaring her innocence on a blog and publically accusing the government of a conspiracy and anti-Semitism.

She may be a nice person in real life, but she made some bad choices and now has to pay the price. I'm sorry for her.

[Enough of this shit!]

Chareidi shmaredei. Fuck all you Jew self haters who rejoice in the pain of others because it momentarily distracts from your pathetic live. Good moral people never rejoice the pain of others, no matter who the others are. The fact is that like all of you, she's far from perfect. Sh fucked up! She still has little children and family and this is an extremely harsh and painful punishment for ANYBODY, Jewish and Muslim alike. We live in a country that gives us the right to free speech. It cannot be taken away. That's what let's you moron bozos post here without fear of reprisal. There is no law against being arrogant or egotistical. Her blog is her right just like Shmarya's is his right. That the judge read her blog and takes I into account for sentencing just speaks volumes to the juvenile and immoral character of the all powerful judge. Ten years is very harsh! we need to re-think our whole prison ideology in this country. We throw everybody in jail for any reason more than all other countries combined! America was fought for and built on freedom. Not to lock people in cages like animals for failing for failing to pay for moving violations, using Vicodin without a prescription and hiring an escort service into the privacy of your own home. The list goes on and on. We are obsessed with locking people up in cages for breaking the smallest rules and paying the costs instead of for social and medical services that our communities need. Stop giving harsh long sentences to non violent criminals. Shorten them and augment punishment in other ways. It will help all of us in the
long Run. Chareidi Shmareidi!

[effie]

So, how long must she serve before she is eligible for parole?

[effie]

Did I miss it? Where does it say the judge read her blog or based the sentencing decision on her blog?

[effie]

Just watched the video. It seems that the judge is referring to statements she made on her blog.

[effie]

How old are her kids? Are we talking about 26 year olds? I hate when people use their adult children for sympathy.

I suspect she will do no where close to 10 years in prison. 10 years is the maximum they can hold her. Prison and parole board will decide when she is released.

[yidandahalf]

As soon as you hear about some major douchebag, shanda, or the like, you have to hear about their famous blog.

[Barry]

Like the verse says:
"The true honor of a princess is inside"

[JJ]

Does anyone on this blog have a job available for Seymour. This individual seems extremely bored. He may as well become a contributing memebr of society.

[Shmarya]

Does anyone on this blog have a job available for Seymour. This individual seems extremely bored. He may as well become a contributing memebr of society.

Posted by: JJ | May 18, 2011 at 06:20 AM

Seymour has a job.

More importantly, Seymour is a much nicer, much kinder, and much more polite person than you are or probably ever will be.

[itchiemayer]

A good attorney will tell their client to not tick off the Judge. It is common sense. Judges are human. Wende Runge seems to have angered the Judge. If only she would have been a mentsch, she would have been better off. Alas, she just couldn't.
apc - I'm alive and kicking! Thanks for asking.

[Isa]

"""Whitaker said he had not decided whether to appeal, adding: “We are still weighing our options.”"""

When someone pleds guilty then there is no appeal [ha ha ha]
But I suppose there could be an appeal of the sentence but her blog 'went over the top'

[Shmarya]

The point was as follows:

Runge pleaded guilty, which means that she is accepting that what she did is wrong and that it violates the law.

But instead of accepting her guilt, Runge attacked the judge, the prosecution, the State of Iowa, and others. She claimed antisemitism. She said she was innocent and had only pleaded guilty to get a lighter sentence. She hoped that sentence would be probation. And she did all of this publicly and in print.

What the judge did is say, enough is enough.

You did not accept your guilt.

You have shown no remorse.

You are falsely claiming antisemitism.

You are trying to game the system.

And I will not stand for it.

I told everyone I know who knows her from day one that playing the antisemitism card and attacking the court and prosecution would backfire.

And it did.

[effie]

The woman was clearly guilty. Even after pleading guilty to some of the charges, she denied her guilt, said she was a victim of a conspiracy and antisemitism, and attacked the judge and prosecutor. Is that evidence of a lack of remorse? Hell, yeah. Is lack of remorse a reason not to reduce a sentence? Again, hell, yeah. Additionally, I believe she was the mastermind behind this scheme.

You people who excuse criminal behavior do them no favors.

[effie]

I'm such a slow typist!

[WoolSilkCotton]

When you find yourself in serious legal trouble, the first thing an attorney tells you is "do not discuss the case with anyone except your attorney".

Her BLOG??? That was the height of arrogance.
When will frumma crooks realize they cannot outsmart the rest of the world?
When will frumma crooks realize the rest of us aren't that stupid? When will frumma crooks realize that you are not allowed to lie, cheat, and steal?
Why is it so hard for frumma crooks to understand this?

[seymour]

I work on a computer and on the internet
that is how i can post all day.

In addition to all the sickos

it is the reaction of the frum community that is the problem

in other communities their is shame when someone from their community does criminal activities. And will lose theri title of holy person tzadek

not so in the frum community, of course since that person is really never guilty of they did it lasem shamaim

other communities do not protect molesters and vilify the victims unless that community is the roman Catholic Church.

At least you keep good company and it was the roman Catholic Church that worked hand in hand to deafest a bill that religious school should do background checks on their staff

Good bed fellows

[seymour]

Does anyone on this blog have a job available for Seymour. This individual seems extremely bored. He may as well become a contributing memebr of society.

Posted by: JJ | May 18, 2011 at 06:20 AM

Seymour has a job.

More importantly, Seymour is a much nicer, much kinder, and much more polite person than you are or probably ever will be.

Posted by: Shmarya | May 18, 2011 at 06:53 AM

thanks

[seymour]

Does anyone on this blog have a job available for Seymour. This individual seems extremely bored. He may as well become a contributing memebr of society.

Posted by: JJ | May 18, 2011 at 06:20 AM

I tried getting section 8 but they said I was not frum enought

[WoolSilkCotton]

++I tried getting section 8 but they said I was not frum enought

Posted by: seymour | May 18, 2011 at 07:45 AM++

LOL! Seymour, you are great!

[seymour]

I can go on and on but I think I made my point. Oh yea...I forgot to mention there are only molesters in the orthodox community; the secular world doesn't have this. You guys are a pathetic joke.

PS: I would like to see what kind of coverage a frum murdeur would have on this website.

when is the last time in the secular world the people rallied for the perpetrator and shunned the victim.

It has become so obvious that a secular judge reprimanded the whole frum community for their sick behavior.

again I repeat if the frum community and leaders would treat this issue seriously as serious as they treat how long a skirt must be what music one listen too how many imperfection an esrog can have, I guarantee you we will shut up and hail their action.

Now go back tell you rebbies that the evil loshon hore web site can be shut down very easily. all it takes is a strong stand chumrahs when it come to scam. lying, cheating financial issues and protecting children.

Why don't you proof me wrong

[WoolSilkCotton]

The best argument the frumma trolls here can make is "the secular world is even worse than we are".

So that's what all the davening, and Torah study, and kosher, and Shabbos, and all the other expenses and baggage of being frum has to offer? "We are slightly better than the rest of the world".

How pathetic. You frumma cannot even come up with a compelling statement to support the very basis for your way of life.

[jancsipista]

seymour- as i wrote before youre great it is exactly the way you write it about the frum, they think the universe is theirs they cant comprehend rational thinking, what they are doing the frum is pure evil to defend a molester who was convicted this only shows who they are to the world its a shame on us all law abiding yiddin to see all this stupidity,one thing seymour , its prove not proof:

[Barry]

Her blog may have been removed but the
Matzav message 'we have emerged VICTORIOUS!!' is still online.

http://matzav.com/a-message-from-wendy

Judges do check the internet. I am sure that Linda Reade is a fan of chabadinfo

[seymour]

Posted by: jancsipista | May 18, 2011 at 08:08 AM

thanks

I was one so I know how they think, I know halachcha. While I am a none believer, I can say the religion and its laws and rules and ethics is not what is represented today in the frum community.

The halachcha is really pretty good at ethics and condemns scam, stealing in any form.

NOt perfect since many times they where products of their time, and i am sure they ball shem tov and others like him would not have keep quiet about the issues we speak off and maybe a leader of the pack to condemn such actions.
For sure Hillel would have been. he said be good to you fellow
man (he did not say Jewish man) and now you understand what Judaism is all about.

Their are no leaders like those guys anymore

[seymour]

seymour , its prove not proof:

Posted by: jancsipista | May 18, 2011 at 08:08 AM

thanks, I do have pretty bad writing skills I could blame yeshiva but they are only a part of the reason not the whole reason or cause

[WoolSilkCotton]

Seymour, keep up the good work.

I would rather read truthful comments with bad writing skill than lies and falsehood with good writing skills.

From the frumma who post here, we have lies and falsehood with bad writing skills.

[Forty Eighter]

What a sad day for her and her family. She is otherwise a nice person. She is just a victim of a deluded chabad ideology. The in-your-face arrogance and shamelessness that is part and parcel of the chabad credo did her in.

I warned her on this blog to tone

[Forty Eighter]

I warned her on this blog to tone down her ego. But it was obvious that she was delusional the whole time.

Iowa and Chabad, perfect together!

[jancsipista]

seymour- youre an interesting person would like to speak with you one day we have similar backrounds , one difference i was born in europe.

[Loshon Hora]

What the judge did is say, enough is enough.

You did not accept your guilt.

You have shown no remorse.

You are falsely claiming antisemitism.

You are trying to game the system.

And I will not stand for it.

I told everyone I know who knows her from day one that playing the antisemitism card and attacking the court and prosecution would backfire.

And it did.

Since when is it a crime not to be remourseful, it may be ethicaly wrong, but when did it become the law, who outlawed arrogance?
What statute is that?
When the murderer tells the judge & family he is sorry. Do you think he really means it? He isn't sorry what he did, he is sorry for himself, and is pleading to the jugdge for one minute on the stand to save as many years of his life as possible.Did you know bribery is ilegal? Does bribery have to be cash? Could it be sucking up & honoring the judge making him feel powerful & honored is also a form of briberry? Albeit, not ilegal in this country, it is halachically forbidden.That doesn't tell me she shouldn't have done it, because it works even if it is wrong, you need to use your brains as much as possible.
Judges shouldn't pass sentances based on feelings and their own honor, they should be based on the crime committed, not the behavior in the court room.If that is ilegal the prosecutor should file new charges for braking those laws, just like all other crimes irelevant to the crime being dealt with,may not be considered as evidence. Unfortunatly it doesn't work that way.
We need a policing system & a judical system, like it says in the mishna in avos. That does not mean it will produce justice, King Solomon says the place of Justice, there is is the evil. Mkom hamishpot shomo horesha.BTW it works bothways,OJ simpsom walkes the first round. Bill Clinton was only impeached , he remained president, and remained popular.
We have a judical system, but we don't have justice. That is not to say I rather no judical system, it is a deterent, and does get it right some of the time.
that said I guess the hater bloggers here, are making a party a Chareidi BT is going to jail for 10 years, & leaving her 4 kids motherless, because she was chutpadik to the judge on her blog.
Now think of who judges the world & gave the Torah to his nation, & those people go & blog with chutzpah against that Judge who has the power to kill & make live enrichen & enpoverish etc. Yet you guys blog against him.
Remember that judge is erech apayim, & wants tshuvas reshoim, but when the measure is filled the wrath comes down, now jury no goyishe freinds, no money & nothing will save you then.

[Loshon Hora]

Does anyone on this blog have a job available for Seymour. This individual seems extremely bored. He may as well become a contributing memebr of society.

Posted by: JJ | May 18, 2011 at 06:20 AM

Seymour has a job.

More importantly, Seymour is a much nicer, much kinder, and much more polite person than you are or probably ever will be.

Posted by: Shmarya | May 18, 2011 at 06:53 AM

How would you know that?
I have always suspected you & seymour are one. When you comment you always seem to get the same symbol as Seymour. You seem to think the same. Yesterday Seymour claimed he was single. Today Seymour claims he works on the internet all day. You seem to this blog ats a living that is why you ask for support, it can't be for Typed that is a megar $30.00 a month.
Spill the beans is Seymour your allias?

[effie]

I doubt the judge checked the internet. However, I'm sure the prosecutor and probation department, noted all her statements to the press and possibly on her blog and made it part of their brief/report and argued/recommended that she get a high sentence.

Again, I don't know what this translates to in real time. 10 years is only the max they can hold her.

[effie]

Since when is it a crime not to be remourseful....

It isn't. But it is a factor that can be considered when imposing a sentence. You will have to do your own research if you want the exact statute number. I suggest that you all check the rules of court. Let us know what you find. Good luck!

[yudel]

Let's get one thing straight. We are pretty much past crime families of the 20's and 30's from we Jews but we still got allot of active criminals at work.

[effie]

all = also

[Loshon Hora]

I just remembered the posuk. Hinosei Shoifeit Ho Orettz Hosheiv gmul al geim.

[seymour]

Does anyone on this blog have a job available for Seymour. This individual seems extremely bored. He may as well become a contributing memebr of society.

Posted by: JJ | May 18, 2011 at 06:20 AM

Seymour has a job.

More importantly, Seymour is a much nicer, much kinder, and much more polite person than you are or probably ever will be.

Posted by: Shmarya | May 18, 2011 at 06:53 AM

How would you know that?
I have always suspected you & seymour are one. When you comment you always seem to get the same symbol as Seymour. You seem to think the same. Yesterday Seymour claimed he was single. Today Seymour claims he works on the internet all day. You seem to this blog ats a living that is why you ask for support, it can't be for Typed that is a megar $30.00 a month.
Spill the beans is Seymour your allias?

Posted by: Loshon Hora | May 18, 2011 at 09:11 AM

I just hope your lomdesh skills are better than your detective skills.

[Loshon Hora]

You still don't answer it.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Loshon Hora, what does it say about a crook who cannot even pretend for one minute to show any remorse or show respect for the judge, even if she has to fake it for just a few minutes each day during the trial?

At least act as best as you can, during the trial, that you feel bad about what you did, say you are sorry over and over, offer to give back money, you will take courses in business ethics, whatever it takes for those few weeks to act like you are doing tshuva. That is all the judge is asking, just try to act like a mentsch for a few weeks during the trial and sentencing. Every lawyer tells you the same thing.

But no, this frumma piece of drek and her ego just kept getting in the way. Same with Rubashkin.

She has the right to say whatever she wants, and blog all she wants, and the judge has the right to give the maximum sentence.

[seymour]

You still don't answer it.

Posted by: Loshon Hora | May 18, 2011 at 10:09 AM

we are not the same person

i am a kollel guy who gewt stipoends to learn all day that is why i have all day, Nobody checks if I really am there or not or even if I exist but it gives me enough time to post comments all day.

Kolleel what a life

[Zalman Alpert]

Americans should be permitted to commit white collar crimes and then say I am sorry and go free unpunished. Perhaps the judge should even gie them some money for shadchanus fees. Of course there are 2 exceptions if they money they steal is from Charedi Jews (then look out)and if they are charedim they should be allowed to go to a Besdin for further white collar crime.
Asking for forgiveness is something you do from Hashem , . Bein adam lechaveiro you ask the people of Iowa for forgiveness. Of course since they are not Jewish these people believe you can take their money.
By the way let me ask the Charedi defenders here what is the Teshuvah for Chilul hashem leynei kol ha-amim ?
No one takes pleasure in another persons tzaros,(like the French politician in jail in NY ?) but the Sheva Mitzvoth Bnai Noach do involve the establishment of a serious system of laws and punishment , otherwise you totter close to Sedom.

[HRC]

Did you ask a rav if you could print her picture after all she isa female

[OMG]

Posted by: seymour | May 18, 2011 at 07:45 AM

I tried to, but they told me you cannot pay rent to yourself.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Is there a female section in Otisville? Or is this a state crime, and now a kosher kitchen will be needed at taxpayers' expense for this behaima.
Is there a mechitza in the Otisville shul?

Funny how a Conservative female rabbi creates a Kiddush Hashem the way she handled herself on Jeopardy, and I am sure the frumma mock her.
But Runge and her Chillul Hashem are defended and she is praised by the frumma (take a lot at the VIN comments).

That is the sad state of the frumma mindset. Criminals are praised because they are frum. Brilliant people are mocked because they are not frum.

[Deremes]

Di Tiztung is writing about the big picture story again.

No translation yet?

[clarity]

People- no one is playing the “I'm frum therefore I am innocent card” here. Please do not comment if you do not know the facts of the case. Wendy, an inexperienced film maker was directed by the head of the film tax credit office to do as she did. The only charge she plead guilty to was switching titles on her movie. In other words her movie A was approved and she had not submitted all charges for movie B before the deadline. The tax credit head told her it would be OK to scrap film A and use the credits for film b instead. Wendy was told- and I was present at the trial that she “should have realized that it wasn't Ok and should have doublechecked with a lawyer”. Thus she had a hard time pleading guilty to “fraudulent practice” to begin with as she clearly had no intention to decieve or defraud anyone and in fact did not cost the tax payers any additional charges. If you recall the state dropped all other charges (in total dismissing 11 of 12 charges which they were actively pursuing her for). Why? If she was so guilty? Wendy and others felt very clearly that the court and state knew clearly the details of the above and still tried to portray her as a greedy defiant crook stealing “millions”.
So no, SHe doesnt think she is innocent because she is religious. She knows that she is innocent because she is. And if indeed she did break the law by listening to the tax chief and not running her own investigation, it was clearly unintentional and not subject to such a stiff penalty

And Shmarya- please refrain from any ridiculous name calling. I am not ignorant and am very clear with all the facts of the case. I was present at trial and heard all evidence presented.

[theman]

I KNOW HER-- SHE IS NOT CHAREIDI. SHE IS ORTHODOX

[Bassy the Haredi Slayer]

What a sad day for her and her family. She is otherwise a nice person. She is just a victim of a deluded chabad ideology. The in-your-face arrogance and shamelessness that is part and parcel of the chabad credo did her in.

You just hit it on the head! Just like Rubashkin she was not sentenced for her crimes, she was sentenced for her arrogance, her defiance and lack of remorse.

Dina Wien, another charedi BT (not Chababd, good for her!) Pled guilty, kept quite , expressed remorse , and agreed to pay back 7 million received only 31 months!