Are You a Sociopath? If So, You'd Be A Successful Prosecutor

Will Grigg
Jan. 31, 2013

For several years, the federal government sought to confiscate the family-owned Motel Caswell inTewksbury,Massachusetts. The owner, Russ Caswell, had cooperated with police investigations of suspected narcotics activity. He was never charged with a crime. Yet a DEA official filed paperwork to steal the property through asset forfeiture because of drug offenses that took place without the owner’s knowledge.

Carmen Ortiz, the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, is reportedly considering an appeal of the ruling that dismissed the forfeiture suit against Caswell. Ms. Ortiz was the same prosecutor who drove 26-year-old internet wiz Aaron Swartz to suicide.

After Swartz downloaded a large volume of publicly available academic papers from MIT, Massachusettsstate prosecutors intended to let him off with a stern warning. According to a report in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, Ortiz took over the case with the intention of sending a “message.” In early January, three months before Swartz was to begin his criminal trial, he learned that Ortiz had rejected a proposed plea deal that would have avoided prison time. Two days later, the 26-year-old committed suicide.

Like most of her professional colleagues, Carmen Ortiz is an obvious sociopath. It’s a prerequisite for a career as a federal prosecutor.