Convicted of a variety of crimes for accepting money in return for favors, the former marine was at a loss to explain his actions. /arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-pmn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/OSGY7F6Y6RFZXHI5OXWAD7I6MQ.jpg)
In September, 2019, two years ago, Hoopes, 72, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and four counts of extortion. In addition to his prison sentence, he was also ordered by Pratter to make a full restitution of the $40,000 he received through the money laundering, and pay $10,500 in fines. After his time behind bars, Hoopes will face 18 months of supervised release.
They were particularly hard on Hoopes for helping men he thought were criminals launder hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug money.
“The breadth and insidious nature of Hoopes’ crimes is substantial and far-reaching. He abdicated his role as a law enforcement officer and betrayed the citizens of Lower Southampton Township,” prosecutors wrote in court filings. “Having taken an oath to protect the public, he turned his responsibility on its head and became a criminal himself.” Family and friends came to Hoopes’ aid on Thursday, testifying as character witnesses about recent difficulties he’d faced, including personal losses and an addiction to alcohol.
Hoopes was at a loss to explain his behavior.
“I thought about what happened and why it happened, and I didn’t have an answer,” he said. “I lost all sense of identity, all sense of right and wrong. It was like I was playing a role outside my body.”
Pratter accepted and acknowledged the personal tragedies of Hoopes’ family, but admonished him for participating in the schemes, especially given his history as a police officer and lawyer.
“You knew, better than anyone in this collection of defendants,” she said, “the harm of what you were doing.”*******************
Maybe… Maybe he saw some easy money that wouldn’t hurt anyone and went after it. What causes a mans judgement to go so far wrong? A hard life with not much money? Until you can see inside the brain, there’s no way to account for behavior so different than Bob Hoopes.
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