Greenspan, the trial lawyer for Radler’s former business partner, Conrad Black, wrapped up his cross-examination of Radler by letting Black’s jury know what a sweet deal Radler has going for him if he tells the court what the prosecution wants it to hear. Black’s charged with fraud. Radler pleaded guilty to fraud and is testifying against Black. Radler and the U.S. attorney have an understanding that when Black’s trial ends Radler will be sentenced to a 29-month prison sentence he can serve in Canada.
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“You know in Canada anyone who gets three years or less for a nonviolent crime is out in six months,” said Greenspan. Radler replied, “I look the jury straight in the face. I did not know that. I heard rumors . . .”
“Have you heard there you can raise cattle? And there’s a golf therapy program.”
Greenspan is a sly fellow, and I wondered if Radler is in for a grimmer experience than Greenspan was letting on. Perhaps Radler, who contained his excitement at Greenspan’s gushing description of Club Fed, wondered that too. I came across a memoir written by Ferndale’s late warden, Ron Wiebe. He allowed, “The golf course that we built at Ferndale has become a focal point for criticism.” But it’s taught inmates social skills, Wiebe maintained, not to mention “work opportunities that resulted in a number of men getting careers in golf-course maintenance and working in the landscape business.”
