Conrad Black Had Entourage of Inmates Who Acted as Servants and Saluted Him, Prosecutors Say
Prosecutors are pointing to allegations that onetime media mogul Conrad Black treated inmates like servants and had a supercilious attitude in an effort to send him back to prison.
Black was convicted for defrauding Hollinger International and served 29 months in prison before he was released on bail. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned two of his convictions for honest services fraud, but did not disturb convictions on another count of fraud and obstruction of justice.
Black’s lawyers describe him as a model inmate and say he shouldn’t have to serve any more prison time after he is resentenced June 24, the Chicago Tribune reports. Prosecutors responded with affidavits by prison workers.
A unit manager said Black had an entourage of inmates who performed services for him, such as ironing his clothes, the Tribune says. Some inmates saluted Black every time that he taught GED classes. While he was teaching, an education specialist said, Black “projected the attitude that he was better than others in the class, both faculty and students.”
Why the attitude? A new study may offer a clue. It found that rude people who violate social norms are perceived as more powerful, according to the Careerist and AOL Jobs. Wrote the Careerist, “I’m loath to admit this, but I fear it’s true: Rude people project more authority and tend to get ahead in their careers.”
