Former Wal-Mart executive receives slap on the wrist

Former Wal-Mart executive Thomas Coughlin was given detention today after pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud and tax evasion. In addition, he will be allowed to keep his $12 million retirement package.
No jail time, but 27 months of home detention, five years on probation, and he has to repay $461,000, which shouldn't be too hard with $12 million coming from his former employer.
The five counts of wire fraud each held the possibility of five years in prison, while Coughlin could have received three years on the tax evasion charge.

Wal-Mart filed suit against Coughlin in July claiming that between 1997 and 2003 he had fraudulently obtained or billed the company for $223,709 worth of personal expenses, including $1,350 for "hornback gator" cowboy boots and $714 for the taxidermy of a wild boar with a rattlesnake in its mouth.

Coughlin had denied wrongdoing, claiming that he was reimbursing himself for a secret Wal-Mart scheme to fund an anti-union spy operation. Wal-Mart has said Coughlin’s claim isn't true.

The Coughlin sentencing continues a recent tradition of light punishment of errant Wal-Mart executives. Robert Hey was given one day in jail for three counts of wire fraud.