Gutted all the way; esp. if he were sentenced!! If he wasn't sentenced, I wouldn't much care as long as the music carried on.

I can see Richie as the Godfather of the New Jersey Syndicate Mafia. He'd be convicted for Drug offences after masterminding £billions of drug trafficking. He'd be caught when he picked up the wrong acoustic guitar to play on Good Morning America & some gear fell out. Despite having all the politicians in his pocket, the fact that it was picked up on TV meant they couldn't let him get away with it.

The Mafia would then pass to Jon, who started a war against the bubblegum pop industry. Richie gets out after 10 years (originally a life sentence) & they become the most popular band ever - mainly 'cos they have control of all the record shops.

Mike

BTW - The true criminals in the Ryder case, r the ppl who charge $1000s for their merchandise.