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A comment on Maryland nuclear engineer and spouse arrested on espionage-related charges. Parent comment

Re:Maryland nuclear engineer and spouse arrested on espionag... by sterlind on Monday October 11, 2021 @12:17AM (#28824615)
they couldn't be charged for fraud. illegal activities don't get legal protection. this is why you can't e.g. sue your drug dealer for breach of contract because he didn't deliver those kilos of cocaine he promised.

they could get them on tax evasion, though, assuming they didn't report their ill-gotten gains (which you can do without incriminating yourself, amazingly.)

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Re:Maryland nuclear engineer and spouse arrested on espionag... by rhcom2 on Monday October 11, 2021 @01:33AM (#28825037)
In CA at least there are legal penalties for selling fake illegal drugs so some illegal activities get legal protection.

https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/health-and-safety-code/hsc-sect...

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Re:Maryland nuclear engineer and spouse arrested on espionag... by sterlind on Monday October 11, 2021 @01:02PM (#28830456)
I don't think that protects the buyers of the fake illegal drugs, it just allows prosecutors to charge dealers of fake illegal drugs as if they were the real deal.

Under the Analog Act, fake drugs are considered as illegal as what they're represented to be (even if it's just baby powder.) I assume CA's law is the state counterpart of that Federal statute.

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Re:Maryland nuclear engineer and spouse arrested on espionag... by pseingatl on Monday October 11, 2021 @03:40AM (#28825812)
Most American States have laws against selling ersatz narcotics.
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