Two years ago, a prisoner managed to stroll out of the Criminal Court Building in Manhattan because he was wearing a business suit and convinced a guard that he was a lawyer. After a day on the lam, police caught Ronald Tackman—wearing jeans and a t-shirt—in Washington Heights with a fake passport, wigs, phony beards, and four gun-shaped cigarette lighters. Now, a judge has sentenced him to a maximum of life in prison, even though Tackman argued he needed the NY Attorney General to certify the constitutionality of the laws sending him to the pokey, "If I bought a painting from Sotheby’s, it would be certified authentic by three experts. If you buy a Ford, it’s certified. If you buy a diamond ring, it’s certified. The laws of America must be certified. They are much more valuable than a painting. How come I can’t see proof of this?"

When, in 2009, Tackman was awaiting a pre-trial hearing for five 2007-2008 Upper East Side robberies and one attempted robbery, he pulled a pair of black socks over his orange jail shoes. A courthouse officer asked him, "Counselor, what are you doing here?" to which the smooth criminal said, "I'm an attorney. I just talked to my client."

Tackman's lawyer tried to argue that his client's diabetes, hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver were reason for some leniency, but Justice Richard Carruthers told him, "It’s clear, Mr. Tackman, that you have amassed a record for having committed several felonies, including violent felonies. Now you must pay a severe, but entirely justifiable, penalty."

Violent felonies? Well, that has to do with his previous escape attempts. From a 2009 Daily News article:

In September 1985, Tackman was described as an "escape artist" by a corrections official after he tried to shoot his way out a prison van using a rubber-band powered zip gun fashioned out of metal tubing and a comb.

Tackman tried to take over the van as it was crossing the Brooklyn Bridge bound for Manhattan criminal court by firing two pellets that just missed hitting the corrections officers. He gave up when the guards pulled their guns.

In an earlier escape attempt, Tackman briefly took over another prison van by brandishing a "extremely realistic" but bogus gun carved out of soap.

Tackman made the guards stop the van and throw out their guns. Then he forced them to get in the back, where he locked them up with the other prisoners.

Tackman, who is 57, will be eligible for parole when he is 82.