Hunter Biden has been indicted on nine tax charges in California as a special counsel investigation into the business dealings of the president’s son intensifies against the backdrop of the looming 2024 election.
He tried to plea down to a misdemeanor charge, but the judge did not like the deal. If found guilty, he could spend years in prison, but most likely you're correct. If this were your average tax cheat, he'd be facing a small fine.
Maybe this opens the door to more rich tax cheats facing prosecution. Hunter goes to jail, why not the next one? Why not all of them? Republicans keep dancing around like they knocked down the champ, but they have abandoned the pretense that it's just not possible to prosecute the big tax cheats because they have the means to hire expensive lawyers and the connections to avoid jail time.
He tried to plea down to a misdemeanor charge, but the judge did not like the deal.
I don't think this is the correct framing. The judge questioned the parties (required during a deal) and found that the parties disagreed on the interpretation of the deal and exposure to additional charges (highly unusual - these agreements are typically watertight). Since there was a disagreement there was no meeting of the minds and the deal fell apart. The judges feelings have nothing to do with it.
With tax crimes you rarely see anyone have more than a fine, especially when they have already paid what they owe. More than likely he will be charged with a misdemeanor, be fined $25,000, and released.