United States v. Alex Blum, et al.

Outcome: 16 months

Description: Takeover-style armed bank robbery. Mr. Blum was a private in the Army Rangers, preparing to serve in Iraq, when Spc. Luke Sommer, his superior, directed him to drive the getaway car in an armed bank robbery committed by Sommer and three other men. Testimony from nationally-recognized experts in the psychology of obedience explained why a patriotic and dedicated soldier could be manipulated into committing a serious crime. The court imposed an exceptionally low sentence.