larger institutional problem. prosecutors have argued that there has been some harm done, as a result of these activities. and that she is a contributor to what is ultimately a larger problem and a bigger scandal. ron? >> reporter: exactly, but the bottom line that the judge, the ra rationale, the judge is saying that there is a crime committed that should be punished by the perpetrator going to jail. that seemed to be the line that the judge was trying to weigh throughout her, throughout this long discussion of how the case was being played out. so if that in fact is the precedent, that sends quite a message to some of the other folks out there trilying to dece whether to plead or take their cases to trial. i think of lori lauf lynn and her husband for example, they are facing 40 years in prison. based on what they did. remember, that case involves half a million, money paid to the university, or to employees