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This Is How YouTube Can Put You In Jail watch!

laist.com — Three guys filmed themselves scamming a fast food joint in California and then posted it on YouTube. Police recognized them and prosecutors have a slam dunk case. $15 can land you 7 years in prison.

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  • fuhcough, on 03/20/2008, -52/+12This is front page stuff? Common sense people...
    • Mr8lack, on 03/20/2008, -5/+20Maybe you should use some and stop posting that stupid comment.
    • flashback99, on 03/20/2008, -1/+3Trollbaited.
    • capiCrimm, on 03/20/2008, -1/+3Meh, that manager didn't use common sense. That was a fill-up your own drink machine and he was complaining he got the wrong drinks.
      • maci01, on 03/20/2008, -1/+4Maybe they went through the drive-through.
  • Akadjjoel, on 03/20/2008, -8/+69Ha ha! That's what they get for being well known idiots.
    • frostbyt, on 03/20/2008, -10/+54Yeah way to waste tax dollars money on putting these guys in jail for 7 years over $15 bucks. Great now we have to pay $150,000 per year * 7 years = $1050000. Oh not to mention when they come out their lives are now ruined and are no value to society. Now they will most likely go on well fair and be even a bigger drain on us. A slap on the wrist with 50 hours community service would have been the smarter option.
      • deeboe, on 03/20/2008, -10/+5Yes, however they are making an example of these DB's and preventing other morons from seing this video and repeating the act.
        • sponeil, on 03/20/2008, -0/+20Actually, I think people will still imitate the act. They just won't post it on YouTube.
        • PleaseJustDie, on 03/20/2008, -0/+15Its not really going to prevent it, you would have to be a moron to do this to begin with, so morons will continue to do it.

          Hell just look at that Chris Hanson show Dateline: To Catch a Predator, half the pedophiles they catch are like "Hey I know you, your that guy who catches predators, I watch that show."
          • CommentPoster, on 03/20/2008, -1/+0"What are you doing here?"
            "OMFG! You're Chris Hansen with dateline nbc! I'm going to take a seat over here, k?! =D"
        • Tomchei, on 03/20/2008, -0/+4It's only an example if people know about it.
          Crap like this happens every day.
      • Otto, on 03/20/2008, -0/+33Read the article. They actually got 30 days in jail and 3 years probation. The possible maximum was 7 years.
        • Elliuotatar, on 03/20/2008, -1/+1430 days is still stupid. Community service would have been a cheaper and better option. Jailtime for stealing three dollars worth of taco meat? Gimme a freaking break.
        • yacks, on 03/20/2008, -1/+3but they actually do get to pay for their jailtime.. no tax refunds for them I guess..
      • dagnome1984, on 03/20/2008, -0/+10Still jail is dumb. They should be forced to pay restitution. The company didn't get its money back by tossing those idiots into jail.
      • zeejay, on 03/20/2008, -0/+11You're right - the cost of imprisonment is too high. Execute them.
        No, wait, even better: make them work at Del Taco.
        • Entroper, on 03/20/2008, -0/+8That's actually not a bad idea. Have them personally apologize to Rosie and the rest of the staff for wasting their time, and have them wash dishes for free for a week to make up for it.
      • antiquiche, on 03/20/2008, -2/+1they also said that the guy is a well known gang member. I say put him in jail for the full 7 to get him off the streets.
        • maci01, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1Right and we'll just ignore the whole due process model. There needs to be evidence.
      • rushiku, on 03/20/2008, -1/+1"Oh not to mention when they come out their lives are now ruined and are no value to society."

        As opposed to now?

        Anyway, I'll echo the herd: a harmless prank should get you 30-60 days community service, max.

        Now, my two cents: I hope this video encourages our youth to make and post videos of themselves committing crimes - think of all the unpaid work they'll be 'volunteering'!
        • frostbyt, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1They will have 0 chance to better themselves in jail as opposed to outside of jail where they have a chance.
    • twertyto, on 03/20/2008, -1/+3Bury
    • dicknuts, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1Anyone else from L.A. laugh when he revealed his area code was 909? Inland Empire is well-known ***** territory out here.
    • precision256, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1Something about him doesn't surprise me that he scammed for food.
  • arcangelgabriel, on 03/20/2008, -6/+39Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.
    • LemmingJesus, on 03/20/2008, -0/+14I hope you guys here on Digg realize your lord and savior, Kevin Rose did this with a pizza company on The Broken.
      • isewise, on 03/20/2008, -0/+3Thats exactly what I thought of when he started explaining the "scam". Also, kevin is not my lord and savior.
    • godfly, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1I'm not sure if I should digg your comment that you got from Snatch
    • BESTenemy, on 03/20/2008, -0/+7Hey, people, do you remember Kevin Rose did a social engineering experiment getting a free pizza on "The Broken"? How come that one never got him into trouble?
      • BlackCow, on 03/20/2008, -0/+4Because the only people who watch The Broken are Kevin Rose worshipers and we would never rat him out to the police?
  • scififan9009, on 03/20/2008, -11/+143Something to ponder - I just watched Celebrity Rehab on VH1 and Seth Binzer and Jaimee Foxworth were both shown using crack and pot respectively. This wasn't on YouTube, it was on a major cable network. Why are the police going after these guys for stealing tacos and not the others for drug use? How are these two things different? Special treatment that celebs get aside, I don't see legally how these two illegal acts that were filmed are any different.
    • Mootabolife, on 03/20/2008, -4/+36It's called fame and money, America runs on them.
      • NJPENSO, on 03/20/2008, -1/+10You can't be arrested for a video of you doing coke/drugs period.
        Doesn't matter who you are.
        • norsurfit, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1Really? I'm not so sure that's true. Care to cite a source?
          Such a video of drug use would be just a piece of evidence that a prosecutor could consider in deciding whether to prosecute for possession/use of drugs. I doubt there is a rule that says "a video alone can't be the basis of prosecution." It's probably that, from an evidentiary perspective, a video (absent physical evidence of drugs) isn't enough by itself to secure a conviction, and most prosecutors conclude that they don't have a strong enough case to pursue based upon video evidence alone.
      • digitalhippie, on 03/20/2008, -0/+2Yes, but they are "has beens". They are not real celebrities.
    • Chairboy, on 03/20/2008, -6/+42You don't believe there's a difference between stealing from someone versus using drugs? Seriously?
      When you steal, you're hurting other people directly. If you're really unclear on the concept, you may be operating under the assumption that all laws are created equal and are exactly as heinous. This is, of course, a fallacy. Jaywalking and rape both violate laws, but you'd have to get up pretty early in the morning to suggest the two were equivalent.
      • scififan9009, on 03/20/2008, -5/+16Dude, lay off the caffeine please. I never said I didn't believe there was a difference. I said I wanted to KNOW what the difference was from a legal standpoint of two illegal acts being videotaped. Which was answered by orangefly below - legally you would have to prove the drugs were real, which would be difficult if not impossible to do.
        • dougmc, on 03/20/2008, -0/+7> I said I wanted to KNOW what the difference was from a legal standpoint of two illegal
          > acts being videotaped.
          Looking for informed legal opinions? I'm not sure digg is the best place for that ...
          • scififan9009, on 03/20/2008, -1/+8Are you kidding me? I never look for informed opinions on Digg. :D

            I am, however, looking to start discussion about a related event. These comment thingies, isnt that what they are for?
      • candafilm, on 03/20/2008, -11/+7"When you steal, you're hurting other people directly."

        And drugs don't cause you to do that? Tell that to my friend who was almost killed when a crack addict jacked his car while he was in it and drug him down the road for 2 miles.
        And don't come back with your ***** "well he would have done it anyway." I know plenty of people and friends that did stupid things when they were high that they wouldn't do normally.
        • BoneheadFarker, on 03/20/2008, -1/+7So I guess personal responsibility goes right out the window when there's a convienant excuse to use, eh? People can do the same stupid ***** with perfectly legal items too...any item has the potential to do harm if you take personal responsibility out of the equation...
        • raynar, on 03/20/2008, -5/+2so that was your friend....my bad.
      • Rain12913, on 03/20/2008, -4/+2Sorry guy, you may be able to argue that the actual act of smoking crack doesn't hurt anybody besides the one who does it, but what you're forgetting is that before these people did these drugs they had to purchase them. The money that they paid for these drugs with will indirectly finance crimes that are far more serious than stealing. Drug cartels are responsible for murder, rape, and enslavement, and if you've ever been to a country where drugs like cocaine are actually produced on a large scale, you'll understand why purchasing drugs is NOT a "victimless crime". While Marijuana is largely grown domestically and thus its production is generally carried out "crime-free", crack cocaine is a completely different story. I find it highly ironic that many of the people who purchase cocaine at the same time will only buy "free trade" coffee and won't support corporations that are accused of child labor...wake up!
        • BoneheadFarker, on 03/20/2008, -1/+2Hmmmm...so, seeing as drug cartels only exist because drugs are illegal, the solution to this problem must be to legalize drugs. That would remove the outrageous profits cartels are able to generate, remove the need to steal to afford these drugs since they won't be as expensive, and remove the hassles people must endure to get these drugs which makes it safer for everyone. On top of that, by providing safe access to these drugs you can also provide counselling for drug addiction when these people come to see you. Because a drug dealer certainly isn't going to convince you to *stop* buy their drugs.

          It seems to me the big problem here is the fact that drugs are illegal, not the drugs themselves...
        • HaoTian, on 03/20/2008, -1/+0Not only that, but with legal and regulated access to a substance society saves on prosecuting/imprisoning non-violent drug "offenders" in its already over-burdened courts/jails. That saves a lot of money! Add to that taxes from the sale of products like cannabis and that's a fair chunk of change for the government to use.
          And what could we use that money for? Well... how about better education about every substance we put into our bodies every day (not just the illegal ones) so that the public can make informed decisions about what they do. And how about more money for health care so that we can better address health issues of all types? Hmmmmmm...
          • Scheissen, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1***** off, we don't need to be educated by the government are given "free" healthcare by the gov't. Sorry, I broke your Michael Moore fantasies.
      • kevludlow, on 03/20/2008, -1/+2These are funny arguments, but completely non-relevant. So I'll just jump in and try to make the point:

        Possession is illegal, consumption is not (not directly anyways).

        Being in possession of drugs and committing fraud and/or stealing (tacos in this case) are all illegal.

        Filming yourself doing any of them is just fine. If the Taco place had never filed a charge, they'd probably be okay. The reality is, however, that someone there probably saw the video, recognized that they were duped, and called the cops citing video evidence. If you film yourself smoking crack, there are no charges that can be brought against you. If however you're filming yourself selling crack, post the video, and an investigation gets opened up, that video may be used against you.

        It's actually pretty simple and this notion of feelings and who gets hurt by what, while relevant to the macro picture perhaps, really has no bearing in this case.
    • orangefly, on 03/20/2008, -0/+30they can't prove from a video what you had were real drugs....
      • LacY, on 03/20/2008, -1/+9I saw the Dr. from the Celebrity Rehab show on another talk show, and they asked him the same question, and that was his answer--that they were never *told* to do it on camera, thus Celebrity Rehab (the show) isn't in trouble, and that they can always claim they were not using real drugs and that it was just for demonstration purposes.
      • scififan9009, on 03/20/2008, -1/+3Ah, that's what I couldn't figure out. Would be impossible for a jury to determine if it was real or a re-enactment. Thanks orangefly.
      • Melenor, on 03/20/2008, -1/+10Then who's to say those were real tacos?
        • scififan9009, on 03/20/2008, -2/+2Probably the guy they stole them from, who I would assume reported the incident to the police.
      • Elliuotatar, on 03/20/2008, -1/+2Are you so sure that they need to prove they were real?

        http://www.wwaytv3.com/asheville_man_arrested_for_ ...
        • kevludlow, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1Yes. So if you read the article, he wasn't held on drug charges, but rather "...felony POSSESSION of a counterfeit controlled substance"

          If he had made a video of him smoking those peanuts, or real crack for that matter, he'd be just fine. By contrast, if he made a video of himself selling those peanuts (disguised as crack) or real crack to people on the street and an investigation was opened, his video would be solid evidence against him.
    • roomforpanic, on 03/20/2008, -0/+10Because it would be impossible to prove that the substances in question were actually coke or pot unless confiscated at the time of use.
      • noahhoward, on 03/20/2008, -0/+3Carpet Fresh and yard clippings.
      • scififan9009, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1Awesome, thank you. That's what I couldn't figure out - that makes sense, thanks for explaining.
    • zebraz, on 03/20/2008, -0/+26It is not illegal to do drugs.
      It is illegal to possess them.
      • cremate, on 03/20/2008, -4/+4You have to possess them to do them. Or do you mean possess them at the time of arrest?
        • scififan9009, on 03/20/2008, -0/+2From the answers received it seems they have to find the substance in your possession. A videotape of someone using is meaningless for a conviction, actual evidence in possession is what is needed.
      • o0joshua0o, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1Let me get this straight.... A friend of yours could possess drugs and put them out on a table for your enjoyment. Then if you used them (never having had them in your possession), you wouldn't actually be guilty of anything?
        • Enjia, on 03/20/2008, -1/+4in your body also counts as possession, this is why a drug test or breathalizer can be used as evidence.
          • Dax420, on 03/20/2008, -0/+4Uhh no. Evidence for DWI maybe, not for possession of a controlled substance.
        • Evyn, on 03/20/2008, -0/+0Yes, you would. If the police walked in and found the drugs on your table, you'd be guilty of possession. That's like someone slipping drugs in your bag without you knowing. You might not know about it but if you get searched you're still convicted.

          Of course, do the drugs before the cops show up and you're good to go. ;P
    • BuzzFriendly, on 03/20/2008, -4/+1Very different things. Stealing creates financial and perhaps other types of harm against another person(s) drug use is in essence a man made crime against yourself.
      • GABACALM, on 03/20/2008, -0/+0Just kinda curious here as to who/what it was that 'made' the crime of stealing, if it wasn't man.
      • kevludlow, on 03/20/2008, -0/+0While there is truth to what you say, that has nothing to do with why a video of one can get you arrested while the other one can't.

        You can inject heroin into yourself on video if you so choose, broadcast it to the world, and unless there is someone to get you then and there for the possession charge, you haven't broken any law. Committing fraud is illegal - whether it happens now or happened a year ago (though there is admittedly SOME statute of limitations on it) and filming your involvement with it and broadcasting it is pretty solid evidence.
    • beatmyguest, on 03/20/2008, -0/+0It's called... If you roll the dices and you can't pay the price they'll ***** your ass fast like minute rice!
    • lazlonger, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1prove there was pot or crack in that pipe? you can't. case closed.
      the deltaco thing can be corroborated by "Rosie" and others at the restaurant.
      it's got nothing to do with celebrities. cops can be lazy (not always, not all cops so chill out). this was easy.
  • Mootabolife, on 03/20/2008, -5/+20Corporate is great if you have a real complaint. ***** like this just makes it worse for all of us.
  • doshindude, on 03/20/2008, -35/+456 diggs and front page'd? Digg Algorithm FTL....
  • Grahamcracker, on 03/20/2008, -2/+71If the big guy in the youtube video was the one "crying like a baby", I'd much rather see that.
  • morrisonm, on 03/20/2008, -2/+33The Broken already did this!
    • Slugo, on 03/20/2008, -13/+7yeah, I remeber Kevin Rose doing this to a pizza joint ....Pizza hut i think



















    • MuRf07, on 03/20/2008, -4/+10The Broken!!!!! .... bring IT BACK!
    • jimcavoli, on 03/20/2008, -4/+1Amen. Also, if I may point out, that thebroken video is on the internet's foremost TV network, not freakin' YouTube.
      Also, this means that obviously DelTaco is far more valuable than pizza.
      In any case, it's a good social engineering experiment for people to see. It would have been a simple solution to just say "Sorry, no receipt, no food" but instead the manager felt bad and gave it up clean. Epic.
    • MasterPlayer, on 03/20/2008, -3/+6Uh-oh Kevin Rose, the fuzz might be out to get you soon.
    • kevinsboy, on 03/20/2008, -3/+1Kevin seems much smarter than that if i remember correctly he covered his tracks very well.
    • yacks, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1Actually I think they really paid for the pizza.. the pizza they shown at the end was the half and half pizza, not the full "hawiaan style" pizza they were supppose to get free.
  • faskill, on 03/20/2008, -7/+84Petty theft doesn't warrant 30 days in jail. Intent to defraud for amounts less than $20 doesn't warrant the man hours from the justice system or the district attorneys office.
    • Chairboy, on 03/20/2008, -12/+2If someone stole $19 from you, then by your above statement I assume that you wouldn't mind if the police didn't do anything when you reported because it 'doesn't warrant the man hours', right?
      • ilikevag, on 03/20/2008, -1/+10Why would you report that?
      • Travelsonic, on 03/20/2008, -1/+8So you admit that when something happens to you, you go for the easier, irrational reaction?
      • RealmDown, on 03/20/2008, -2/+7You must be one of those "touch me and I'll claim assault" people, right ?
      • nealsoad, on 03/20/2008, -1/+18You would call the police over $19? Wow....
      • music2play1, on 03/20/2008, -3/+1read the constitution.
        bill of rights
        article 7 "In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law."
        • ledmonkey, on 03/20/2008, -0/+4The seventh amendment gives right to have a jury trial over CIVIL matters. Nothing to do with criminal cases.
        • jaxcs, on 03/20/2008, -1/+1juries for civil but not criminal, kinda wacky isn't it?
      • Chairboy, on 03/20/2008, -4/+2A lot of emotional responses to my question. Because I haven't been modded down enough, I'll throw another log on the fire with a followup question that might be easier to understand:
        If someone steals less than $20 from you, you should just lie back and enjoy it?
        I love how one person posted the dumb 'touch me and I'll claim assault' bit, and then a bunch of other folks agreed with the fabrication enough to mod it up. Great job! The good news is, I'll make a mint selling pitchforks and torches. The bad news is, that irrational mob will then turn around and come after me. It's the great challenge of the small businessman all over again.
        • Chairboy, on 03/20/2008, -3/+2Oh, btw, quick! Go back through my history and be sure to mod down everything else I've ever posted in a fit of pique. That'll "learn me".
        • sancho, on 03/20/2008, -1/+2Yeah, you gotta be careful around here. There are some vindictive assholes. If you don't tow the party line (er, align your views with the majority diggers) you'll find that people will digg you down for the rest of your time here.
        • faskill, on 03/30/2008, -0/+1In rseponse to your original question... if someone stole $19 from me, would I go after them? No. The amount of time and effort required by me to recuperate from such a meager loss is not worth it to me personally. And if we were to apply what happened and gauge my reaction: someone calls my establishes and socially engineers a means to deprive me or my company a meager amount, since I've given and they haven't stolen anything, there is no grounds for a case in my opinion. If I were versed in legal writs and all that pertaining to the law, I'd make a legal claim of the same.
      • BenKenobi88, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1Uh, I don't think 30 days in jail is appropriate. If someone stole 19 bucks from me, I'd expect my money back and maybe he could go to jail overnight or something. If it was just theft of the money, not assault or anything.
        • maci01, on 03/20/2008, -1/+1Well if you're stealing 19 bucks its either for food or crack. Either way they need more help than I do.
    • saxmaster, on 03/20/2008, -2/+11Imagine the hidden cost to society if criminals knew they could regularly get away with petty theft. if the consequences are minimal, then more and more people will be willing to steal, knowing that if they're caught, they won't pay too big a price.
      • TomTruelle, on 03/20/2008, -0/+4reminds me of the trailer park boys when ricky started stealing barbecues.
      • MmmPi, on 03/20/2008, -1/+1Some lawmakers consider 5-to-10 for armed robbery minimal, yet they aren't running around robbing liquor stores. Criminals do know they can get away with petty theft, that's why most criminals are petty criminals. Stores are always bitching about the cost of loss, and how they have to raise their prices in order to make up for it.
    • gravylookout, on 03/20/2008, -0/+4FTA: "The video's "star," Robert Echeverria, who Rialto police said is a known gang member and was "crying like a baby" at the station before making a plea bargain to serve 30 days in jail with three years of probation."
      To be fair the guy is a known gang member, I'm sure they could charge him with any number of things its just easier to pin him for the stuff he posted on Youtube.
    • falstaff, on 03/20/2008, -1/+16If a couple MP3s are worth $200k in the eyes of the justice system, then actual, tangible tacos should be worth MILLIONS! These guys got off easy.
      Almost forgot...***** the RIAA.
    • dn11, on 03/20/2008, -1/+5it warrants paying the $15 back, thats about it. how much money will be spent in the justice system over tacos??
    • wingo123, on 03/20/2008, -0/+2It's like getting Al Capone on tax evasion... They've probably been trying to get something on this guy and lock him up for years.
  • plizard, on 03/20/2008, -10/+2ahahah fat asses
  • ligyron, on 03/20/2008, -8/+3It never ceases to amaze me the kind of videos people put on youtube for the public to see. One can only wonder how many have been arrested after uploading videos of all the weed they possess
    • GABACALM, on 03/20/2008, -2/+0Why does that amaze you? Do you really not understand that there are people out there (and a great deal of them, too) that aren't as technologically or media savvy as you so clearly are? Sure, you can't really go through the process of uploading a video to YouTube without realizing that it's going to be publicly available for all to see, but I think it's a bit of a stretch to assume that it's common knowledge that the police are actively patrolling YouTube for these kinds of petty crimes.

      Of course, if you yourself have never committed a crime in a place where the police have the capacity to see (which, correct me if I'm wrong, is virtually everywhere now), then disregard this comment.
  • Delphium226, on 03/20/2008, -6/+7Self-fulfilling prophecy - eat ***** everyday and you'll eventually become so stupid that you think it's a good idea to pull a stunt like this.
  • fakekevinrose, on 03/20/2008, -2/+56The fat guy was really convincing. Is there an Oscar category for scamming
  • Gman311, on 03/20/2008, -3/+18haha, the even provided their own mug shots at the end
    • yacks, on 03/20/2008, -2/+1Dug down for stealing comments from original article.
      • Gman311, on 03/20/2008, -0/+2wow, you're right, my bad, I honestly didn't even look past the video
      • maci01, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1Yea but we were all thinking it.
  • DavidStagno, on 03/20/2008, -13/+8Be Smart...Robb somebody for there money...and BUY YOUR FOOD
    • Kretien, on 03/20/2008, -1/+6Speaking of being smart, do you by chance mean "their"?
    • scififan9009, on 03/20/2008, -0/+2Shop Smart. Shop S-Mart!
  • hiikeeba, on 03/20/2008, -3/+6I am constantly amazed by people who post movies of themselves committing crimes, and then being surprised when they are arrested. Obviously they weren't thinking, but what were they thinking?
    • dougmc, on 03/20/2008, -1/+3They were probably thinking it wasn't a crime. (Incorrectly, it would seem, though I suspect that had they tried to fight the charges they might have had a reasonable chance of winning, though it would cost many times the cost of the plea bargain.)
      • allahuakbar, on 03/20/2008, -1/+1Of course it was a crime and they knew it. They can't be that stupid.
  • fwertz, on 03/20/2008, -9/+3Wow, frontpage huh? That's cool.

    What about all the items stolen from Sheetz?
    "What do you mean? Gas?"

    No.

    I see people order food all the time and when they pay their slip they ask for a courtesy bag, which they then fill with goodies. And not pay for them. Some of it, is worth way more than $15.
    • queestaesto, on 03/20/2008, -0/+3Sheetz......man do I miss the schmagel...mmm. We don't have any Sheetz out here. Cry.
    • dougmc, on 03/20/2008, -1/+1huh?
      • Stirdy, on 03/20/2008, -1/+0I'm with DougMC.

        HUH?
      • fwertz, on 03/20/2008, -0/+2You fools never been to Sheetz. Fizzailure.
        • dougmc, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1`Stores are located in Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia'

          Come meet me in the local HEB and we'll talk about it.
  • JSeivwright, on 03/20/2008, -2/+10Reminds me something Ricky would do with Cory and Trevor from Trailer Park Boys.
    • hypertension, on 03/20/2008, -0/+0"It's not stealing! I'm helping them exercise their customer service skills. It's perfectly fine!"
  • MsAntiSunshine, on 03/20/2008, -0/+61Dugg for good-natured white man laugh he pulled off as Mr. Kennedy.
  • tehnico, on 03/20/2008, -1/+7Chillin', in prison.
  • bossm4n, on 03/20/2008, -1/+45I could see going to jail for In N' Out burger, but Del Taco?
    • yacks, on 03/20/2008, -0/+2Doesn't In n' out give you it for free anyways if they don't give you a receipt? or am i thinking hot dog on a stick?
  • adikt, on 03/20/2008, -2/+12He should have scammed a weight watchers for free meetings. Seriously, when you have so much back fat you look like your lying down when in fact your sitting in a car seat, it's time to cut the DelTaco out of your diet.
  • fox1324, on 03/20/2008, -6/+107One thing noone seems to notice is...
    doesnt SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON seem an insanely severe maximum for stealing $15 worth of tacos?
    Think about it... the tacos were worth $15 *retail*, and probably cost the taco place less than half that to make themselves.
    How many HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of TAXPAYER (yours and mine) dollars would be spent trying, convicting, imprisoning, feeding, these 3 kids over the next seven years? Does it seem worth it to you?
    It would be easier and more effective to fix our laws and economy so that conditions for this sort of behavior do not arise in the first place.
    • archaist, on 03/20/2008, -2/+3Cute, but I seriously doubt their "conditions" had anything to do with their choice to scam some free tacos. You make the guy sound like Jean Valjean.
    • adikt, on 03/20/2008, -2/+12Does that guy really look like he is surrounded by conditions that prevent him from obtaining nutritional sustenance? I bet you he sweats beef gravy.
    • queestaesto, on 03/20/2008, -1/+9This could have been his 3rd strike.
      • SkippyDoorknob, on 03/20/2008, -1/+11Or after eating all that, his 3rd stroke.
    • purelithium, on 03/20/2008, -1/+4Think about how often ***** like this happens, as well. Multiply your hundreds of thousands of dollars by whatever number of petty crimes that are clogging up the court system, 10,000? 100,000? Think about those numbers...
    • Stirdy, on 03/20/2008, -2/+2Kids? Give me a break.
    • phre3k187, on 03/20/2008, -7/+2I agree.. 7 years in prison sustaining these guys is not worth the cost. Just take them straight to the electric chair!
    • StandardsDT, on 03/20/2008, -2/+6Did you not carefully read the article? They said the maximum he could get is 7 year, but he's getting 30 Days in Jail and 3 years probation because me made a plea bargain. Plus apparently he is a known Gang member there and isn't all that tough considering he was crying like a baby at the station.
      • dougmc, on 03/20/2008, -0/+7> he is a known Gang member
        Is being a `known gang member' a crime? And if the answer is `no, not by itself', why are the police/DA using it as a criteria for deciding which actual crimes to prosecute?
  • orlyfactor, on 03/20/2008, -8/+4Maybe Mr. Kennedy will go on a goddamn diet in prison.
  • cowman, on 03/20/2008, -0/+6Does scamming Del Taco qualify as white collar crime?
  • mickmel, on 03/20/2008, -1/+10Don't forget the other side of this. This has become a big story and it's giving a lot of people a free lesson on how to rip off restaurants. I still agree that they should have been punished, but I think it'll lead to a LOT of copycats who are smart enough not to record themselves.

    http://www.thestreisandeffect.com/20080318/the-pol ...
  • borez, on 03/20/2008, -8/+3NOM NOM NOM....NICKED!
  • GenericJoshman, on 03/20/2008, -4/+3I laughed when he started talking about his stomach salmonella. What a *****.
  • mBrutis, on 03/20/2008, -3/+1Karma's a bitch.
  • Kronos6948, on 03/20/2008, -1/+8Isn't this the same as Free Pizza for Life?
    • androo002345, on 03/20/2008, -1/+2The difference is that this seems that the police are just looking for a reason to put these people in jail. The punishment doesn't fit the crime, imo.
  • telegramstou, on 03/20/2008, -8/+4HOW COULD YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUCH AN AMAZING ESTABLISHMENT!!!! God I love me some Del Taco!
  • daxsymbiont, on 03/20/2008, -7/+1"after a tip to police, the three were"
  • gfxlonghorn, on 03/20/2008, -6/+1The only reason he scammed Del Taco, was because it was the closest he could get to scamming a homeless shelter, that would actually be a scam. You save more money scamming a god damn push cart food stand then a Del Taco.
  • brbubba, on 03/20/2008, -0/+30I have to question whether this is really a crime. The guy in question could just claim that he really had a bad batch of tacos and that he was extending the truth to receive remuneration for his tacos. And at the end of the day I could claim I was the pope, but the manager willingly chose to hand over the tacos for free. So my question is, how is this any different than convincing someone to donate money to your organization or a salesman making a sale based on questionable claims?

    In any case I have a feeling this idiot opened his mouth when they got him into the police station. Had he had an ounce of intelligence and kept his mouth shut and asked for a lawyer I doubt this would have been an issue and he probably would have served no jail time. Petty theft is a rather minor offense that, at least in New York, is dealt with in the same court where traffic violations are handled. This seems more a case of police overreacting due to a perceived fear of widespread copy-cats.
    • Stirdy, on 03/20/2008, -2/+2It's called "Theft by Deception". Look it up.
    • SkippyDoorknob, on 03/20/2008, -1/+2Main Entry:
      fraud
      Pronunciation:
      ˈfrȯd
      Function:
      noun
      1 a: deceit, trickery; specifically : intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right b: an act of deceiving or misrepresenting : trick
      • cwabray, on 03/20/2008, -1/+1so if I come over to your house and tell you, 'You know, i live here .. but I lost the deed to the house, you must be here by mistake' and you are stupid enough to sign the deed over to me and allow me to move in, I should be held responsible for your stupidity?
        • brianara3, on 03/20/2008, -1/+0Yeah... isn't US law great ;-)
          I think we should get more laws against stupid people...
    • freedomkeeper, on 03/20/2008, -1/+0Is this what people are talking about when they refer to moral relativism? You KNOW he was scamming Del Taco, yet you're still able to twist out a way to make it almost alright. The gangsta should burn! Simple enough.
  • GorgarFanClub, on 03/20/2008, -8/+3I just did this to Taco Bell! LOL!!11!
    • xenuxenuts, on 03/20/2008, -1/+10You poor bastard. I'd say they scammed you if you actually ate their food.
    • jwitherow, on 03/20/2008, -1/+1Not to mention the fact that fast food places HATE it when people do that crap and don't think they don't know that you do that crap. So their is a pretty good chance that you got a little extra sauce on that taco of yours. If you don't know what I'm talking about watch the movie Waiting.
  • superrad, on 03/20/2008, -0/+29Kevin Rose did this in the broken except it was with pizza. How come he's not in jail :(
    • geekdw, on 03/20/2008, -2/+9I was going to ask the same question. But he did a good job of covering up the name of where he got the pizza from...and Kevin probably has a lot more money than those guys, and you can get away with anything if you have the money lol. Of course that would defeat the purpose of getting the free pizza...so I dunno?
      • krazedkaoz, on 03/20/2008, -0/+5I have a feeling he may have gone back and paid for the pizza. I dunno I could be wrong.
      • maci01, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1You could even murder your wife and child.
    • Kronos6948, on 03/20/2008, -1/+3That's exactly what I was saying about Free Pizza for Life. I just didn't want to put anyone's name out there.
  • buddamus, on 03/20/2008, -5/+4Looking how fat he is, must do this alot, maybe time in the gym would be a punishment
  • queestaesto, on 03/20/2008, -4/+1AAAAAAAAAhahahahahha....retards..
  • Sitycle, on 03/20/2008, -6/+11. Buy a Cheeseburger from MacDonalds
    2. Ring up 10 minutes later saying your Cheeseburger had pickle when you requested no pickle
    3. ???
    4. Profit!
    • SkippyDoorknob, on 03/20/2008, -0/+5No profit. You'd spend more in gas going back and forth than it would cost just to by two burgers in the first place.
    • boorilla, on 03/20/2008, -0/+5it should go like this
      3. ???
      4. Ass rape by a guy named Big Dick Alonzo in Cell 3456
  • BuzzFriendly, on 03/20/2008, -1/+4I can hear the conversation now. "Dude, nobody is going to turn us in for this *****."
    • cwabray, on 03/20/2008, -0/+2I can hear the conversation now. "Dude, I'm in here for murder .. how about yourself?"
      • brianara3, on 03/20/2008, -0/+2I convinced Del Taco to gimme free food..... Damn
  • offspring06, on 03/20/2008, -2/+2Supposed badass gangster crying like a little bitch. Funny *****.
  • jeschelon, on 03/20/2008, -2/+2Del Taco....yyyyuuuummmmm!
  • Torx, on 03/20/2008, -2/+1I wouldnt have the patience to pull off such a stunt for chump change fast food.
  • theshaze, on 03/20/2008, -1/+1I can't believe that they actually took the time to censor out the phone number from the video, but decided not to censor out their faces... I mean, you just can't buy that kind of stupidity; that's the kind that is nurtured by decades of television. Specifically Fox.
  • ucg1, on 03/20/2008, -2/+9Damn, for the same amount of time and effort he put into scamming Del Taco, I could have made more than $15 just working my regular job.
    • TomTruelle, on 03/20/2008, -2/+6So, according to my calculations, you make about 130$ an hour?
      • maci01, on 03/20/2008, -0/+2Well it probably wasn't the video's length (7 minutes) as it was edited to some degree. I would guess the actual procedure would be more like 20 minutes. So about 45 an hour.
  • hatheaddotcom, on 03/20/2008, -6/+0I think I better destroy my video collection today. Oh boy - Walter's in trouble.
  • ProjectGSX, on 03/20/2008, -2/+1I watched a video a few days ago where a guy called a restraunt claiming to be a police officer and asked the employees to bring some food out to undercover officers who were "posing" as homeless people. Funny, but similar. Doing illegal stuff on film and distributing it on the net isnt the brightest idea gang.
    • down4twenty, on 03/20/2008, -0/+5http://youtube.com/watch?v=4X8BkuFQBOo

      its tom mabe
      • ProjectGSX, on 03/20/2008, -0/+2Yeah, thats it, thanks. Hilarious video. Still, impersonating a police officer? That sort of thing doesnt tend to go over well.
        • cwabray, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1I think they were real homeless people that he fed .. by the way you're talking, it seems you think it was a prank with his friends.
  • hokkos, on 03/20/2008, -1/+28Comment from Youtube : "Wow congratulations on being idiots...maybe you should try scamming a fitness center next time fatass... "
    • BinaryDelt, on 03/21/2008, -0/+1Dugg for citing the source of your humorous comment rather than taking credit for it yourself.
  • ThatEvilGuy, on 03/20/2008, -5/+11OK they fooled around and did a stupid thing, but come on, 30 days in jail? up to 7 years if prosecuted? that's too harsh seriously, that's one of the many things that's wrong with America.
    • Stirdy, on 03/20/2008, -1/+2According to one of the reports I read they were all 3 known gang members and the police just used this to convict them as it was obviously a slam dunk case. I agree that if you look at only this one incident the punishment is definitely extreme. But then again, if you're so arrogant and brash as to put this on YouTube with your big fat mug smiling into the camera...you get what's coming to you. I'll sip coffee and laugh at them...and I really don't feel bad about it at all.
      • hypertension, on 03/20/2008, -0/+2Those white kids are obviously NOT gang members.
    • Cyberdactyl, on 03/20/2008, -1/+1Most likely these are low-rent gang punks that have long passed their 3 strikes. I did enjoy he cried like a new born babe, probably because he's well aware his ass is soft and cushy to the good old boys who bury their own set of justice to the hilt.
    • lazlonger, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1you're an idiot. that's what's wrong with america. crime, intentional harmful deceitful crime like this. arrogant destructive crime like this is EXACTLY what needs to be addressed. harmless crimes like pot smoking, parking poorly, screwing up when trying to understand the tax code are where lenience needs to be allowed.

      seriously, what would YOU do smartguy? 30 days is too much? what's "right"?
      • hypertension, on 03/20/2008, -0/+0Make a video of him crying like a baby and put it up on youtube. And make him pay the $15 back, plus interest. Plus sing the "I'm sorry" song.

        Plus make him get some exercise.
        • discobolo1980, on 03/22/2008, -0/+0Make it "i'm sorry Britney Spears!" and it's a deal. No, forget that, LEAVE YOUTUBE ALONE!! *SOBBING*
      • armyturtle, on 03/20/2008, -0/+1What about the companies scamming consumers? Who chases them? Faceless corporate people (RIAA, MPAA, BSA, etc.) I don't see those people going to jail for their scams! Sony with a rootkit, comcast blocking P2P traffic and claiming not to, AT&T & NSA, Verizon claiming "Unlimited" usage on their EVDO network, etc. These things cost consumers FAR MORE time & money than these guys scamming $15 worth of tacos & drinks.

        The only mistake these guys did was publish it on the net. If you can pull that off, don't tell anyone about it. Keep it to yourself; it'll last longer. There was no proof they did anything shady until they posted a video about it showing them doing it.

        Also, I agree - Same treatment for everyone - Kevin Rose & "free pizza for life" should wind up the same way. Celebs doing drugs on NATIONAL Television??? (Where the ***** are you FCC? You like crawling up Howard Sterns ass enough)
  • carrtoonist, on 03/20/2008, -1/+1I would have used the artistic merit defense and then screamed "nickel n dime productions y'all" in the court room.
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