Idealogian

Math Quiz

Man Pleads Guilty in Google Stock Swindle

[Shamoon Rafiq] pleaded guilty yesterday to promising wealthy New Yorkers an inside track to stock in Google and blazing through $350,000 of their money in a three-month spree of five-star hotels, expensive restaurants and Atlantic City gambling.

. . .

Mr. Rafiq could be sentenced to more than five years in prison under the terms of his agreement with prosecutors, two years less than he might have faced if he lost at trial. [Emphasis mine]

OK, now here's the question: If x - 2 > 5, where x is the number of years Mr. Rafiq "might have faced if he lost at trial," what is the value of x? Sort of hard to tell from here, so let's do some more research.

The US Department of Justice Press Release states, "If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment." I suppose 28 years is indeed "more than five years," but I would think the AP could have been a little more precise.