Feds don't have to publish all charges to arrest someone. As long as there is a provable charge, they can arrest, and then let the target know what other charges they can bring. So lying to FBI probably wouldn't obtain cooperation, but the list of other charges they have will. That's why Baker is cooperating.
Martha Stewart got a year in jail, essentially for obstructing injustice-- lying to the FBI about something that wasn't a crime, but where her lie messed them up. Jail isn't any fun, even for a short time. If they have more than a "little white lie," prosecutors have a lot of discretion to push for things that can make peoples' lives miserable for a long time. Like mjs001 says, they probably have much more.
Does lying to the fbi carry a stiff enough penalty for him to start singing like a bird?
Feds don't have to publish all charges to arrest someone. As long as there is a provable charge, they can arrest, and then let the target know what other charges they can bring. So lying to FBI probably wouldn't obtain cooperation, but the list of other charges they have will. That's why Baker is cooperating.
Gotcha. Appreciate the explanation. That makes sense.
Martha Stewart got a year in jail, essentially for obstructing injustice-- lying to the FBI about something that wasn't a crime, but where her lie messed them up. Jail isn't any fun, even for a short time. If they have more than a "little white lie," prosecutors have a lot of discretion to push for things that can make peoples' lives miserable for a long time. Like mjs001 says, they probably have much more.