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Chuck Norris' Kickstart Foundation Form CEO James Brasher - Guilty! Comments By White Collar Crime Speaker Chuck Gallagher
Southlake, TX
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
White Collar Crime Speaker
Every choice has a consequence! Unfortunately James D. Brasher, age 47, is finding that out too well. As the former Chief Executive Officer of Chuck Norris' Kickstart Foundation, Brasher has plead guilty to uttering a forged security. In layman's terms - he took money from the foundation.
According to the US Attorney's office news release:
Brasher pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008. According to the factual basis recited in court during the hearing, Brasher confessed to opening bank accounts in names similar to that of Norris' foundation. As donation checks to the foundation were received at headquarters, Brasher would fraudulently endorse them and deposit them to the accounts under his control. The checks included one from the Hugh Hawthorne Foundation in the amount of $30,000 and one from the Mitchell Foundation in the amount of $100,000. Both checks were intended as gifts to the Chuck Norris charity. Instead, Brasher used some of the money for paying debts and living expenses.
Brasher faces a maximum sentence of up to ten years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 and a three-year-term of supervised release. Ellison has scheduled sentencing for April 10, 2008.
As a former convicted felon (not something I am proud of), I know where Brasher is headed. Some call it "Club Fed". I can say from personal experience, it is fed, but there is no "club" about it. Life in prison is hard - even if you are placed in a minimum security facility. Brasher will have time, however, to think - realizing that the short-term benefit he thought he received from his theft will be far outweighed by the consequence he will face now and following for the rest of his life for his poor choices.
As I speak to groups about white collar crime and prevention techniques, it is clear that Brasher fit a classic pattern: (1) need; (2) opportunity and (3) rationalization. My guess is that Brasher had a need due to debt (perhaps excessive although I can't say that as a fact) and opportunity due to his position of trust within the foundation. Internal controls would likely have prevented what may have been an otherwise, honest man, from exploiting a character flaw.
As I started with - Every choice has a consequence - perhaps Brasher will leave prison in years to come with an understanding of that fact and help others in some way. For now, he will soon experience the opposite of his role as CEO - likely he'll be cleaning toilets in some federal prison, all the while being given time to think.
For information about Chuck's presentations visit www.chuckgallagher.com
According to the US Attorney's office news release:
Brasher pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008. According to the factual basis recited in court during the hearing, Brasher confessed to opening bank accounts in names similar to that of Norris' foundation. As donation checks to the foundation were received at headquarters, Brasher would fraudulently endorse them and deposit them to the accounts under his control. The checks included one from the Hugh Hawthorne Foundation in the amount of $30,000 and one from the Mitchell Foundation in the amount of $100,000. Both checks were intended as gifts to the Chuck Norris charity. Instead, Brasher used some of the money for paying debts and living expenses.
Brasher faces a maximum sentence of up to ten years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 and a three-year-term of supervised release. Ellison has scheduled sentencing for April 10, 2008.
As a former convicted felon (not something I am proud of), I know where Brasher is headed. Some call it "Club Fed". I can say from personal experience, it is fed, but there is no "club" about it. Life in prison is hard - even if you are placed in a minimum security facility. Brasher will have time, however, to think - realizing that the short-term benefit he thought he received from his theft will be far outweighed by the consequence he will face now and following for the rest of his life for his poor choices.
As I speak to groups about white collar crime and prevention techniques, it is clear that Brasher fit a classic pattern: (1) need; (2) opportunity and (3) rationalization. My guess is that Brasher had a need due to debt (perhaps excessive although I can't say that as a fact) and opportunity due to his position of trust within the foundation. Internal controls would likely have prevented what may have been an otherwise, honest man, from exploiting a character flaw.
As I started with - Every choice has a consequence - perhaps Brasher will leave prison in years to come with an understanding of that fact and help others in some way. For now, he will soon experience the opposite of his role as CEO - likely he'll be cleaning toilets in some federal prison, all the while being given time to think.
For information about Chuck's presentations visit www.chuckgallagher.com
Chuck Gallagher
Chuck Gallagher, LLC
Southlake, TX
828-244-1400
360.283.1400
