Pursue S&L; Crooks Like Student Debtors

Over the past few years, I have followed The Times’ articles on how the Department of Justice, through the U.S. Attorney’s Office, has left no stone unturned in pursuing federally insured student loan defaulters--literally making federal cases--often in situations involving no more than a few thousand dollars.

Lately I have also closely followed, with disgust and outrage, the U.S. Attorney’s tepid response toward the principals involved in looting millions of dollars from federally insured savings and loans. In these cases, President Bush and the Republican U.S. attorneys appear to have taken a laissez faire attitude toward financial institution fraud, claiming “difficulty” in prosecuting such cases.

I’m not saying don’t pursue student loan defaulters. All I am saying is that the U.S. Attorney’s Office should pursue S&L; looters with at least the same vigor.

GEORGE C. BALDERAS

Corona