Talk about a lousy career move

In this day and age, where information on (almost) everything and (almost) everybody is so public, so universally available, so open to scrutiny, judgement, and commentary, it never fails to amaze me that people do truly stupid and awful things of the illegal and/or career damaging variety.

They're caught on the candid camera contained in everyone's smartphone. Caught harassing people, making racist remarks, pulling off masks, or attacking the Capitol. (Many of the Capitol-attacking idiots weren't "outed" by bystanders: they shared their selfies on social media and the FBI found them.)

Then there's the case of the Chicago Walgreen's pharmacist nabbed by the Feds for having sold 125 fake vaccination cards on eBay for $10 a pop.

Tangtang Zhao is by no means the only fraudster out there peddling vax cards to aholes who'd rather go to the trouble of acquiring a fake vaccination record so they go out to bars and fly United (with the unfortunate by-product of jeopardizing the health of everyone they come in contact with) than walk into a CVS - or a Chicago Walgreen's - and get a legitimate jab. Whatever the reason - political insanity, ignorance, procrastination, hubris, laziness, pseudo reasoning (it's not yet fully approved by the FDA, and I, a google expert on everything, not to mention a Tucker Carlson aficionado am awaiting that final approval) - if you're still refusing to be vaccinated for anything other than health reasons, you're an antisocial jerk, and maybe even a sociopath.

No, Mr. Zhao isn't the only one. Some guy who'd worked at a mass vaccination site was arrested for light-fingering 500 blank cards from said site. And the Feds just seized 3,000 fake cards (sent via FedEx from China) that were going to be distributed for sale throughout the US.

But Zhao was a pharmacist. A healthcare, near-medical professional. And now:

Zhao is charged with 12 counts of theft of government property. He appeared in court Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila M. Finnegan of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois...

“Knowingly selling COVID vaccination cards to unvaccinated individuals puts millions of Americans at risk of serious injury or death,” said Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie Jr. of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office. “To put such a small price on the safety of our nation is not only an insult to those who are doing their part in the fight to stop COVID-19, but a federal crime with serious consequences.”

Each count Zhao is charged with is punishable by a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. However, if convicted, Zhao could serve less time in prison based on sentencing guidelines. (Source: WTTW)

I wouldn't expect (or hope for) Zhao to be sentenced to 120 years in the slammer, but he'll probably (and appropriately) do some time. And he will more than likely (and appropriately) lose his license as a pharmacist. Federal felon. Someone who's lost a job he'd studied long years to achieve. All for the chance to make $1,250 on eBay. What a jerk! Maybe he can work in the prison medical unit, dispensing chill pills to inmates, but I'm guessing he's never going to be working at Walgreen's any time soon.

Years from now, someone googling "Tangtang Zhao" is going to find this sordid story and not hire (or go out with him) for anything.

Shiftiness, theft, fraud, embezzlement, and general bad behavior (legal or not) has never been a good idea. But in this day and age, when any and all bad behavior lives online forever, I really don't know what people are thinking. 

As for Tangtang Zhao, his rancid behavior has put people at risk. And what a stunningly lousy career move.