A SENTENCE OF PROBATION FOR MONEY LAUNDERING IN MASSACHUSETTS ? GIMME A BREAK, JUDGE

 
A state court judge in Massachusetts sentenced Corey Seymour, age 26, to two years' Probation, after he entered three counts of money laundering and one count of money laundering conspiracy. The defendant's father, a convicted career white collar criminal with a history of  fraud, larceny, forgery and money laundering, had him deliver checks to an auto body shop, then later pick up the cash, to distribute to his father,  Allen Seymour. The defendant's father has two prior convictions, and is awaiting trial in a third case.

A condition of the Court's sentence is, of course, that he not engage in illegal activity for the term of the Probation. However, is that not the purpose of Probation in the first place ?

Is a non-custodial sentence ever appropriate for money laundering ? Especially when the defendant's family is engaged in white collar crime, and the defendant surely knows that criminal activity is occurring, and that his actions are a part of an ongoing operation, can we ever allow someone to walk out of the courtroom without serving at least a token jail or prison term ? Where is the deterrent to others who might be tempted ?