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[modraed]

She is in California and my parents live here in Atlanta. This girl HAD BEEN my bestie since 3rd grade. She ordered sixteen thousand dollars worth of clothing and shoes to the exact address I used to live with her at in San Francisco. AMEX refunded my parents the money, and all they would say is that they are going to prosecute her to the fullest extent of the law and something about case closed march 23rd. How long in prison do you think she will get???? Anyone know any legal advice?

[napayshni65]

Depends on her background and if she has other pen ding prosecutions, probably no time and a fine and community service.

[veto]

That is some serious fraud.

You are gonna have to come back and provide some more information.

a) Do you know if she has any convictions for fraud or other forms of theft prior to this?
b) Do you know if she is currently experiencing any form of mental illness (include kleptomania), advanced depression or substance addition?
c) Did she take possession of the illegally ordered items or was the transaction discovered and blocked before the items were dispatched?

I am also curious to know your reasons for asking this question, are you hoping to try and help her or worried about her, or is it just curiosity?

If you can add the answers to these questions to your question as additional details, I will come back and edit some advise into this post.

EDIT: Ok. It is difficult to go to prison for a fraud first offense, but $16'000 is a lot of money. There is a lot of room for variation depending on the judge, her legal representative and whether any of her previous convictions are considered relevant. It is unfortunate for her that she used the goods rather then returning them in new condition. My GUESS would be a suspended sentence, with a fine and compensation order to repay the value of the items to the retailer, plus some form of community service and requirement to complete a drug rehabilitation course, if she does have an addiction. However, a custodial sentence is not out of the question if she has a bad lawyer, a hard judge or some frauds or thefts on her record, or she is violating any form of probation. It is also possible that with a good lawyer she will able to please diminished responsibility as a depressive or kleptomaniac and get off with a lighter sentence.

To satisfy your curiosity, she is unlikely to end up in prison but will be given a very rough ride. Also she will never be able to work anywhere in the financial services sector.

[slaine]

now someone is fibbing
cause yahoo answer tells us you are REALLY IN AUSTRALIA
to wit
This question about "An ex-friend committ… " was originally asked on Yahoo! Answers Australia
this mean *SOMEONE IS LYING*
you say your friend is Califonia and you parent
but yahoo say you are in Australia
;
nice try
now who is "THEY you sad they are prosecute her now do you mean parent
that's mean your parent would have to fly out to san Francisco get he arrested
then stay in that city for trial
most credit card have insurance for this
plus how do YOU know all this? i you could be an accomplice
else how do you the package were deliver to that exact address?
the only way for you know this because you ARE accomplice
else you wouldn't know

[mate]

that's a felony - she could be looking at YEARS in jail

[fenwick]

She could be in a lot of trouble. $16,000 is a major offense. If she is lucky she might get a fine, MAYBE a small jail sentence, be ordered to pay restitution to AMEX and do community service. If not, she will be facing jail time.

And as far as travelmaster's comment goes.....

"nice try
now who is "THEY you sad they are prosecute her now do you mean parent
that's mean your parent would have to fly out to san Francisco get he arrested
then stay in that city for trial" _ Usually the BANK prosecutes the offender, NOT the individual. They can sit at home and do nothing. AMEX refunded their account so therefore AMEX will be the ones going after the ex-friend for the money back.

"most credit card have insurance for this" - Most credit cards reimburse the money no problem, which she stated they HAVE. What's your point?

"plus how do YOU know all this? i you could be an accomplice
else how do you the package were deliver to that exact address?
the only way for you know this because you ARE accomplice" - Really??? The credit card company can tell them the shipping address used. They have access to this information. Doesn't mean she is an accomplice. She just knows the facts that were given. Oh no!! lmao