Drobot Blames Mounting Bills, Government for Forfeiture Dispute

Convicted fraudster Michael D. Drobot told a federal judge that he pocketed a $1 million cash advance from the sale of his assets instead using it to pay a criminal forfeiture order because it was more prudent to ask for forgiveness than ask prosecutors for permission. Drobot says he had no choice, because federal prosecutors refused to give him credit for the value of outstanding bills and liens that he agreed to drop when settling civil lawsuits as payment toward the forfeiture order.  "In the face of the government's repeated denials of credit toward ...