In the major scheme he just pilfered some gear over a long time and concocted a scheme going to profit himself.
When this happens at that level usually you just fire the guy. Small time, most wouldn't get the law involved.
No one is comparing him to a Bernie Madoff or someone robbing people for their wallets at gunpoint.
I am just disgusted at some of the comments that he was driven to steal because of lack of financial support to continue his marathon career.
That is his choice and many, many (even with college degrees) have lived in relative poverty (relative to this country) and didn't have to steal and embezzle to do it.
A ten dollar an hour job at even 30 hours a week today will support a 120 mile week runner and still pay 20 grand a year after taxes. If you are single and split bills with
room mates, that is what runners did back in the day before 120 dollar a month smart phone plans and 4 dollar a gallon gas.
And in my day in the 1980's every 2:13 American marathoner was getting all the gear they needed free from their sponsor. I know its no longer the case today.
Different today where the shoe companies put more money than ever to the top stars and those small contracts for lots of 2:13 or 28:30 10k runners are non-existent.
Yet Bill Rodgers was broke and unemployed when he made his breakthrough at 1975 World Cross and Boston Marathon American Record. If you have a roof over your head and the time to train a sort of reliable vehicle, and found a way to keep the lights on with a low paying job and eat cheap, someone like Ricky Flynn could run 2:09 just like Rodgers.
So I guess I do recognize its tougher for post-collegiate to keep going today at the developmental level. Back in the early 1980's shoe companies were signing any prospect, even if it as just some gear and a 3 to 5,000 dollar stipend and that didn't work out to their benefit so that's over.
Stealing is wrong and I hate thieves. People work hard to get ahead.
And only making 10 bucks an hour with an MBA working at a running store only means is that you are paid the appropriate rate relative to your value as an employee.