Man robs bank for $1 and Free Healthcare (And looks a LOT like Roach :eek:)

**SageTree** · 06-20-2011, 11:11 AM

Bank robber planned crime and punishment:
June 16, 2011 5:18 PM --Diane Turbyfill

Quote:

James Richard Verone woke up June 9 with a sense of anticipation.

He took a shower.

Ironed his shirt.

Hailed a cab.

Then robbed a bank.

He wasn’t especially nervous. If anything, Verone said he was excited to finally execute his plan to gain access to free medical care.

“I prepared myself for this,” Verone said from behind a thick glass window in the Gaston County Jail Thursday morning.

Verone spoke calmly about the road that led him to a jail cell he shares with a young man arrested for stealing computers.

The 59-year-old man apologized for squinting. He hadn’t gotten his eyeglasses returned to him since being arrested a week ago.

He smiled from the other side of the glass, sometimes gesturing with his hands. A plastic, red bracelet with his mug shot clung to his left wrist.

Until last week Verone had never been in trouble with the law.

Now he hopes to be booked as a felon and held in prison where he can be treated for several physical afflictions.

Medical challenges

Verone worked for Coca-Cola for 17 years. He prided himself on keeping his nose to the grindstone. Don’t make enemies. Sell the product. Make your deliveries and stick to your schedule.

When his career as a cola delivery man ended some three years ago, Verone was knocked out of his comfort zone.

He hopped back in the saddle driving a truck. But that employment didn’t have near the longevity, and Verone found himself jobless.

He lived off of savings and sought a part-time job.

Not his first choice, Verone became a convenience store clerk. But the bending, standing and lifting were too much for him. The Gastonia man’s back ached; problems with his left foot caused him to limp. His knuckles swelled from arthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome made daily tasks difficult.

Then he noticed a protrusion on his chest.

Strapped for cash, Verone looked into filing for disability. He applied for early Social Security.

The only thing Verone qualified for was food stamps. The extra money helped, but he felt desperate. He needed to get medical attention, and he refused to be a burden on his sister and brothers.

“The pain was beyond the tolerance that I could accept,” he said. “I kind of hit a brick wall with everything.”

Last resort

A couple of months ago Verone started weighing his options.

He considered turning to a homeless shelter and seeking medical help through charitable organizations.

Then he had another idea: commit a crime and get set up with a place to stay, food and doctors.

He started planning.

As his bank account depleted and the day of execution got closer, Verone sold and donated his furniture. He paid his last month’s rent and gave his notice.

He moved into the Hampton Inn for the last couple of days. Then on June 9 he followed his typical morning routine of getting ready for the day.

He took a cab down New Hope Road and picked a bank at random — RBC Bank.

Verone didn’t want to scare anyone. He executed the robbery the most passive way he knew how.

He handed the teller a note demanding one dollar, and medical attention.

“I didn’t have any fears,” said Verone. “I told the teller that I would sit over here and wait for police.”

The teller, however, did have some fears even though Verone never showed a weapon.

Her blood pressure shot up and once Verone was handcuffed by police, the teller was taken to Gaston Memorial Hospital to be checked out.

Verone said he was sorry for causing the woman any pain.

Political statement

Verone says he’s not a political man.

But he has a lot to say on the subject of socialized medical care. He suspects he wouldn’t be talking to a reporter through a metal screen wearing an orange jumpsuit if such an option were available in the U.S.

“If you don’t have your health you don’t have anything,” said Verone.

The man has high hopes with his recent incarceration.

He has seen several nurses and has an appointment with a doctor Friday.

The ideal scenario would include back and foot surgery and a diagnosis and treatment of the protrusion on his chest, he said. He would serve a few years in prison and get out in time to collect Social Security and move to the beach.

Crime and punishment

Verone expected to be charged with bank robbery.

Because he only demanded $1, he was charged with larceny from a person. Still a felony, the count doesn’t carry as much jail time as bank robbery.

The bearded, gray-haired man plans to represent himself in court. He’s trying not to get too confident about his knowledge of the legal system. He just wants to prepare a statement for the judge and then take whatever active sentence he is given.

Verone is considering an ultimatum if the penalty isn’t great enough, he said.

The crime will happen again.

On the record

The day Verone set out to commit his first felony, he mailed a letter to The Gazette.

He listed the return address as the Gaston County Jail.

“When you receive this a bank robbery will have been committed by me. This robbery is being committed by me for one dollar,” he wrote. “I am of sound mind but not so much sound body.”

Verone wanted to talk to a reporter to make sure people knew why he turned to crime. He figured he had nothing to lose.

“I knew that a felony would not hurt me. I cannot work anymore,” he said. “That felony is going to hurt my reputation.”

Behind bars

Verone has been in jail for a week.

His $100,000 bond has been reduced to $2,000.

He doesn’t intend to pay it. His residence is now the Gaston County Jail.

He goes to breakfast and lunch each day but skips dinner. Dinner means nearly four hours in the general jail population, and Verone said he likes to minimize contact with other inmates.

“I stay very quiet,” he said.

Verone said he hears the other men talk about the revolving door that jail has become for them.

He hopes he doesn’t join the ranks of the repeat offender.

But today, he has no regrets about the robbery or where it landed him.

“If I had not exercised all the alternatives I would be sitting here saying, ‘Man I feel bad about it,’” he said.

But Verone said he thinks he made the right choice for his situation.

“I picked jail.”

And they say there isn't any justice

~1~ · 06-20-2011, 12:44 PM

I'm speechless...

Here is a thought, instead of privatizing prisons for profit, we nationalize the health care industry and take the grotesque miscarriage of humanity out of the hands of the profiteers and pirates...

stoneric · 06-20-2011, 12:46 PM

I thought of George Carlin at first glance.

~1~ · 06-20-2011, 12:49 PM

The tellers medical costs were covered by workmans comp claims I'm sure.

**SageTree** · 06-20-2011, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~1~

I'm speechless...

Here is a thought, instead of privatizing prisons for profit, we nationalize the health care industry and take the grotesque miscarriage of humanity out of the hands of the profiteers and pirates...

FOR PREZ FOR PREZ

Seriously... you start changing that in the culture and I BET a lot of other stuff would just fall into place.

<---- *member of Critical Resistance*

The Don · 06-20-2011, 01:14 PM

It's so comical it's a tragedy.

**SageTree** · 06-20-2011, 01:27 PM

I think it's an act of civil disobedience that we should ALL do!!!

Fill them jails til there is no one left or no where to put em.

(in my tom petty voice)

"Let's get to the point.... let's GO to the JOINT!!!!" lahdedahdodeedah or whatever he says next

deadhead94 · 06-20-2011, 03:19 PM

I quite enjoy having free healthcare without having a criminal record (well, a criminal record that they could still use against me).

I'm not sure where I was going with that other than:

lol, america.

The Rev · 06-20-2011, 04:18 PM

America has more important things to spend that money on, like maintaining military bases in over 130 countries, and paying huge dividends to primary dealer banks for brokering sales of bonds between the Treasury and the Fed. What's healthcare next to such things?

The Rev

**SageTree** · 06-21-2011, 05:08 AM

A little humour about prison:

YouTube - ‪Coach Mc Guirk funniest speech about prison‬‏

Geeno · 06-21-2011, 04:22 PM

I'd like to note that this happened in Gastonia.

If you go to a Panera in Gastonia you won't find people on business lunches or minding their laptops and smartphones. You will find people hootin, hollerin, knee slappin and generally jawin.

Gastonia is also the hometown of Fred Durst.

**SageTree** · 06-22-2011, 05:25 AM

"This has been another....."

YouTube - ‪Animaniacs - AEIOU‬‏

zerodown · 06-22-2011, 09:43 PM

Ill be honest, he stole my plan. I thought of it a long long time ago, its my plan b, if I somehow screw up in life and end up in the streets, Im going to get myself into jail, must be a federal crime, federal prisions are way better than state or fema pririons.

free food, free bed, free meds, free air conditioning, free water, free ride to death essentially.

deadhead94 · 06-22-2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zerodown

Ill be honest, he stole my plan. I thought of it a long long time ago, its my plan b, if I somehow screw up in life and end up in the streets, Im going to get myself into jail, must be a federal crime, federal prisions are way better than state or fema pririons.

free food, free bed, free meds, free air conditioning, free water, free ride to death essentially.

You could rob banks for more than a dollar until you get caught. That seems like a better idea because it keeps you out of a cage longer.

fenderbender · 06-22-2011, 10:08 PM

The guy should have at least actually tried to have robbed the bank.

Think up a really good plan and try it out when you have nothing left to lose.

the-who? · 06-22-2011, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadhead94

I quite enjoy having free healthcare without having a criminal record (well, a criminal record that they could still use against me).

I'm not sure where I was going with that other than:

lol, america.

I'd like to see specific numbers as to what the average person pays in taxes and health insurance in the US vs what the [canadians?] pay with their "free health care". All I know is that there was some shit passed that lets me stay on a family health insurance plan until I'm 26 or something so laugh out loud canada eh?

the-who? · 06-22-2011, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geeno

Gastonia is also the hometown of Fred Durst.

what kind of fag knows the hometown of fred durst?

deadhead94 · 06-22-2011, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the-who?

I'd like to see specific numbers as to what the average person pays in taxes and health insurance in the US vs what the [canadians?] pay with their "free health care". All I know is that there was some shit passed that lets me stay on a family health insurance plan until I'm 26 or something so laugh out loud canada eh?

I don't leave my health in the hands of an insurance company. If I'm sick or injured, I go to a doctor and get fixed no questions asked. And later on, there is no chance I will get a bill for tens of thousands of dollars because the insurance company decided it was unnecessary upon review.

In Canada, the first question they ask at the hospital is "where does it hurt?" not "cash or credit?"

oh and poor people can see doctors without having to decide whether medicine or food is more important.

so, lol, america.

the-who? · 06-23-2011, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadhead94

I don't leave my health in the hands of an insurance company. If I'm sick or injured, I go to a doctor and get fixed no questions asked. And later on, there is no chance I will get a bill for tens of thousands of dollars because the insurance company decided it was unnecessary upon review.

In Canada, the first question they ask at the hospital is "where does it hurt?" not "cash or credit?"

oh and poor people can see doctors without having to decide whether medicine or food is more important.

so, lol, america.

In America we too go to doctors. No doctor has ever asked me "cash or credit", I've never been charged tens of thousands of dollars.

**SageTree** · 06-23-2011, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roach

currently, If you put a pair of wire rims on me , you'd swear I was Ghandi.

Ah YEA!!!!! I know you!!!! You're the MahaRoachy.... you smoked up 'dem Beatles!!!

06-20-2011, 12:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
~1~ Successful Failure Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: where 'they' can't see. Posts: 12,086 Thanks: 522 Thanked 1,815 Times in 1,042 Posts	I'm speechless... Here is a thought, instead of privatizing prisons for profit, we nationalize the health care industry and take the grotesque miscarriage of humanity out of the hands of the profiteers and pirates... __________________ "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere." Albert Einstein --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Click Here Asshole

06-20-2011, 12:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
~1~ Successful Failure Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: where 'they' can't see. Posts: 12,086 Thanks: 522 Thanked 1,815 Times in 1,042 Posts	The tellers medical costs were covered by workmans comp claims I'm sure. __________________ "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere." Albert Einstein --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Click Here Asshole

06-20-2011, 01:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
The Don You follow? Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 10,947 Thanks: 522 Thanked 757 Times in 413 Posts	It's so comical it's a tragedy. __________________ I am genuienly sad about my thanks:post ratio

06-20-2011, 01:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
SageTree Kalyāṇa-mitrā Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 28,081 Blog Entries: 26 Thanks: 15,875 Thanked 9,697 Times in 6,367 Posts	I think it's an act of civil disobedience that we should ALL do!!! Fill them jails til there is no one left or no where to put em. (in my tom petty voice) "Let's get to the point.... let's GO to the JOINT!!!!" lahdedahdodeedah or whatever he says next __________________ Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder. ~Rumi~

06-20-2011, 04:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
The Rev Adorable Idiot Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: There's no one here. Posts: 22,064 Thanks: 6,124 Thanked 7,238 Times in 3,642 Posts	America has more important things to spend that money on, like maintaining military bases in over 130 countries, and paying huge dividends to primary dealer banks for brokering sales of bonds between the Treasury and the Fed. What's healthcare next to such things? The Rev __________________ Budforce - My Friend August 29, 1973- May 25, 2012

06-20-2011, 12:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
stoneric bougeman Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 6,614 Thanks: 1,525 Thanked 2,370 Times in 1,573 Posts	I thought of George Carlin at first glance.

06-22-2011, 09:43 PM	#13 (permalink)
zerodown Mafutero Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: PR Posts: 784 Thanks: 41 Thanked 169 Times in 131 Posts	Ill be honest, he stole my plan. I thought of it a long long time ago, its my plan b, if I somehow screw up in life and end up in the streets, Im going to get myself into jail, must be a federal crime, federal prisions are way better than state or fema pririons. free food, free bed, free meds, free air conditioning, free water, free ride to death essentially. __________________ "I've seen people so poor all they got is money." We have to learn to unlearn Its not contradiction, its amendment Not everything we see is reality Not everything we hear is the truth Not everything we're taught helps us grow ~Cultura Profetica "La locura se lleva en la cabeza y las drogas en los bolsillos" ~Roberto Iniesta

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