Official Update Regarding Riley Robinson

[Sabriane Diamodred]

Hence the " ". He claimed that he was intending it as a temporary loan and intended to pay it back. I had meant it to be sarcastic, but I know that it doesn't convey well via text. Don't get me wrong, I am still very angry about this. Just because I am compassionate that he cut himself off from a wonderful community does not mean that I feel bad for him. I do not know how I would get by if I did not have this community and all of the wonderful people I have met here.

I re read my post and it might have come off in a way i didnt intend- to clarify, I TOTALLY agree with you, my combative tone is because of what happened, not because of your post

And I was more responding to the thread in general than to your post in particular, though the fact we both spoke about compassion may have confused the interpretation.

To summarize: sucks to be him, but seems like he completely deserves it.

This is a small community - a small close community. The loss of even ONE thousand dollars would be a huge deal. This isn't screwing over some faceless corporation, this was a betrayal of close friends, of CHARITABLE donations. Those donations are by our people, some of whom don't have much but gave what they could spare to this group of friends they love, not out of hope for a return on investment, or as payment for some object, but just to keep this great place running.

That's who he stole from, and that's why this is so terrible. He took all that from a community that genuinely might not have been able to survive (monetarily) his treachery.

This might predate me, but the thought of it, the concept, makes me no less angry.

 

[Alora Sionn]

Regardless of intentions, a crime was committed. Though its understandable to be angry, and equally understandable to feel betrayed by someone that may have been a close friend, the fact of the matter is this was his choice and he chose poorly. Thus, he will be paying for it among legal channels. Our anger and condemnation of his acts do not change a thing.

That's not to say I'm telling people how to feel, but before this become a debate of mistake vs malicious actions, keep in mind that it's being handled through legal channels and feel content that justice will, in the end, be done.

 

[Jeem Al'Cazar]

Well said Alora Sedai!

 

[Syera Faelron]

Thank you for the update, I was new around the time this happened. It didn't stop me feeling the grief and betrayl.

 

[Pip al'Dealys]

It's ironic that theft and fraud never featured heavily in his advice thread.

Thank you for the update! I hope he burns! :dm

 

[Vivianna L'antreau]

Thank you Hammar for bringing everyone up to speed - this has been such a huge and ongoing part of the last couple years. But the resiliancy of our Community is incredible, and i'm excited to see our next chapter.

:grouphug

 

[Ahmyra al'Ruley]

I agree with everything that has been said and just want to drop this piece of wisdom I have been trying to use here...

We cannot go back and change events. Crap happened and it is being dealt with. Hot tempers will get us no where fast. A mistake happened... mistakes happen to us all, maybe not of this gravity but they still happen. It's not a tragedy if everyone learns something from it. It is not necessarily the mistake that defines the person or community. It's how it's dealt with and how everyone moves on that really speaks to the character of people and community alike.

Are we going to wallow in the crap this action has caused or are we going to rise up and show not only this Riley character but all people that TV is not a thing to be messed with?

 

[Raeviendha al'Toma]

:fistbump

 

[Alora Sionn]

Preach it sister :fistbump

 

[Ahmyra al'Ruley]

:$ *ish not a sister yet ish just a humble :accepted*

 

[Alora Sionn]

Sorry I meant sista

 

[Ahmyra al'Ruley]

Sorry I meant sista

 

[Dnae Ila]

Being a new-ish member, this is the first I've heard of this, and frankly, I'm shocked, and I feel a little betrayed by proxy, even though I didn't know Riley and wasn't here at the time. I can completely understand the anger and hurt felt by all of you, but I can also understand those who have chosen to forgive him. I feel like I, myself, would have been among that second group. However, to quote from A Song of Ice and Fire, "sins may be forgiven. Crimes require punishment."
Regardless of whether or not we forgive him, he should and most likely will face punishment and justice for what he did, and I agree with the assertion that he should have to pay it all back.

Also, I had no idea that you could get in trouble with the IRS for failing to report as income money that you embezzled. Talk about a double whammy, heh.

 

[Kelgan al'Moranwin]

Also, I had no idea that you could get in trouble with the IRS for failing to report as income money that you embezzled. Talk about a double whammy, heh.

I don't know that it's a both/and. From the IRS perspective, either you admit you got it illegitimately, in which case you are handled through the criminal justice system, or you insist you got it legitimately, in which case it's treated as regular income (baring something like a gift, and even that has limits) that you didn't report and on which you now owe penalties and back taxes. There's a piper to pay either way.

 

[Dars al'Kaskade]

This is a small community - a small close community. The loss of even ONE thousand dollars would be a huge deal. This isn't screwing over some faceless corporation, this was a betrayal of close friends, of CHARITABLE donations. Those donations are by our people, some of whom don't have much but gave what they could spare to this group of friends they love, not out of hope for a return on investment, or as payment for some object, but just to keep this great place running.

I just have to say, that is extremely well-articulated. It captures the context of things, both the obvious bad (the act) and the greater good (the community).

 

[Madrin Al'Carthon]

It would seem these events took place before I joined, so the first I had heard about it was this past weekend. I didn't really know what to say, to be honest. Like many others I was shocked to learn that this community had been the victim of such a serious crime. After reading through the comments tonight, however, I feel like I have a bit more insight into the situation.

I'd like to start by saying that I respect the people who are capable of showing such understanding and compassion towards a person who has so hurt the ones we care about. Seriously, that's a rare trait, and one that I, unfortunately, do not possess. I can understand skimming a little off the top to make ends meet. I can even understand briefly falling prey to the temptation of increasing the amounts you "borrow." What I cannot understand, is the willingness to take from such a tight knit community, of which you are a part, over an extended period of time. To do so shows a lack of remorse and respect for what you are doing and for those to whom you cause pain. Particularly when you are not doing your damned best to set things straight after the fact.

That being said, I do believe that what was done is done. What is important, and what I love about you people so dearly, is that it hasn't held you down. Here you are, stronger than ever, and thankful for what has come of it. You are all beautiful people and I guess what I'm trying to get across, the reason that I felt the need to comment, is that I cherish you.

Anyway, I think if I export any more cheese the Canadian government might come after me, so I'll leave it there.

 

[Pip al'Dealys]

Also forgive me for being slow but how has it taken two years for ...... This? Is there a rough time scale until Riley gate is finished with?

 

[Lilli O' Neeus]

Unfortunately, Pip, it can take several years for something like this to go to court. If it ever does. Building time lines and gathering proofs can be very hard in cases like these because, while he is admitting his crime (as far as I know), they need to know for certain the extent of the crime so that they can give a punishment to fit it. This type of crime is one that never has a clear paper trail and building that paper trail can be very time consuming. You add to that the fact that the same people who are working on building any type of case have other cases that are ongoing and you now have years being used to build the case.

 

[Stephen Lightheart]

I do hope they're able to build a solid case. The idea that they might not never even crossed my mind before.

 

[Lilli O' Neeus]

I was arrested for a crime I didn't commit once. It was almost two years before the case against me was dropped. This was the brief explanation that my lawyer gave on why it was taking so long. Mine was a case of he said, she said on top of that. They knew the result of the crime, but couldn't pin down who committed it because of conflicting statements.

It also didn't help that my lawyer had a heart attack in the middle of all that time. >.<

And I still received consequences from it even though the case was dropped. I'm now not allowed to work with children, nor can I adopt.