More intriguing white-collar anecdotes

In this recent post, I continued my speculation that white-collar offenders may be the biggest beneficiaries of the new sentencing discretion Booker gives to federal judges.  In this vein, I noticed a number of interesting news stories this morning:

• This AP story from Indianapolis reports on a former CEO getting 29 months knocked off his sentence during what appears to be a Booker resentencing (although, it should be noted, the new sentence is still more than 12 years for an offender in his 60s).

• This story from San Diego reports on a remarkable decision by a federal district judge to overturn a jury's decision and acquit a former city councilman of seven counts of fraud and extortion Thursday.  The story also notes what appear to be below-guideline sentences for the councilman's co-defendants, who had their convictions upheld.

• This story from Boston reports on a below-guideline sentence imposed on an internet swindler.