Gizmondo man goes back to jail, does not pass go (again), does not collect $200 (again)
After serving three years in the US prison system for, among a litany of other things, totally disrespecting a $1 million Ferrari Enzo, Gizmondo's ex-CEO Stefan Eriksson is heading right back to jail. Last Friday, the District Court of Uppsala, Sweden sentenced Eriksson to one and a half years in prison for allegedly "making illegal threats, attempted blackmail, and robbery," though given his past offenses (being a head of the Swedish mafia, for instance), we're surprised the rap sheet is so light.
After being released from American prisons in early 2008, Eriksson ran into legal trouble again upon re-entering Sweden. Talking to The Local, his lawyer's initial response to the verdict was, "This is unacceptable, but we must sit down and discuss how we should proceed." We're tentatively suggesting, "Get Eriksson away from cars, money, and other people," but that's just us.
[Via Eurogamer]
After being released from American prisons in early 2008, Eriksson ran into legal trouble again upon re-entering Sweden. Talking to The Local, his lawyer's initial response to the verdict was, "This is unacceptable, but we must sit down and discuss how we should proceed." We're tentatively suggesting, "Get Eriksson away from cars, money, and other people," but that's just us.
[Via Eurogamer]












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
[tre] @ Jul 14th 2009 2:03PM
So he goes to jail twice, has a bad console to his name, AND crashed an Enzo?
Good lord, it must be heck to be that guy.
Look At This Suit @ Jul 14th 2009 2:07PM
Any man who has the capability to somehow saw a Ferrari Enzo completely in half must be put away for life.
Sly @ Jul 14th 2009 3:13PM
agreed. that's worse than murder.
Lakail @ Jul 14th 2009 2:25PM
Sweden has a mafia? Who knew?
Jrinswand @ Jul 14th 2009 3:11PM
Pretty much every country has a mafia.
Velocifaptor @ Jul 14th 2009 2:08PM
I thought enzo's had bat pods built into the front end, so what's the big deal?
Velocifaptor @ Jul 14th 2009 2:43PM
Well the small amount of funny that my post contained is now lost due to the changed picture. Damn you Ben Gilbert!
Jerk Face @ Jul 14th 2009 3:46PM
Okay, 'Velocifaptor' is officially the Best Worst User Name Ever! LOL
copa @ Jul 14th 2009 2:13PM
But Dietrich gets away, scot-free.
DIIIEEETRRRIIICCCHHHH!!!!!!!
WREturns @ Jul 14th 2009 2:30PM
Holy crap, this is just like The Fugitive! Eriksson is innocent! It wasn't him, it was the German man.
Captain Planet @ Jul 14th 2009 2:39PM
*ahem*
The "one-armed" German man.
OnToGloryReturns @ Jul 14th 2009 3:33PM
"I didn't crash my Enzo!"
"I don't care!"
343 Guilty Fart @ Jul 14th 2009 4:12PM
See you at the pahty Richter!
XBL: Burritoclock PSN:Herbie Hat @ Jul 14th 2009 2:13PM
Am I really the only one that thinks this guy is AWESOME!
There is a strong part of me that want's to become rich simply so I can go insane, this guy was headed there, I admire his destruction of expensive toys.
Although the money would have been better spent on the car crushing robot thing from the monster truck shows. I would love to buy that and just crush nice cars in front of car lovers.
OnToGloryReturns @ Jul 14th 2009 3:25PM
He's also a street level thug and murderer. The main witness against him in one of the Swedish cases survived two bomb attempts before testifying. He ran a loan shark operation in Sweden and was busted for that too.
Duped a lot of people and got some expensive toys but at the end of the day no better than your common street criminal.
Yeah, that's awesome.
XBL: Burritoclock PSN:Herbie Hat @ Jul 14th 2009 4:55PM
indeed
Neuromancer @ Jul 14th 2009 2:14PM
He was a magnificent bastard
Dakar @ Jul 14th 2009 2:16PM
Uh, how is this game related?
Storm Eagle::The Blood Edge @ Jul 14th 2009 2:20PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gizmondo
The world is at your fingertips young one.
Dakar @ Jul 14th 2009 2:26PM
"Not to be confused with Gizmodo, the technology blog."
Perhaps if Joystiq had given some indication in the article I might not have been confused.
WREturns @ Jul 14th 2009 2:28PM
It's pretty common knowledge if you read gaming blogs. How much history does this story really need and how much longer do you want this article to be?
Dakar @ Jul 14th 2009 2:40PM
One more line is too much to ask?
As it is, I must have had a point, because they changed the picture to something more revealing.
Captain Planet @ Jul 14th 2009 2:42PM
Considering the image they used on this story is a picture of the Gizmondo device, with the name on it, it should be pretty fucking clear.
Dakar @ Jul 14th 2009 2:44PM
I also challenge that an obscure handheld console that didn't survive a year (less than 6 months in the US, where I live) is "common knowledge."
Courtney @ Jul 14th 2009 2:58PM
Among gaming circles, the story of the Gizmondo is the stuff of legend. The in-depth (and well known) Wired investigative piece is still one of my favorite articles that magazine has run in its entire history.
Also, if you clicked on Stefan's name in the story, it links to a collection of every story about him, from which you could have quickly determined why this man is relevant to gaming.
The fact that you do not immediately recognize the relevance of something does not mean that articles need to be re-written for your benefit, only that you should take some initiative and learn about the subject.
Huey2k2 @ Jul 14th 2009 3:03PM
You must be new around here.
Huey2k2 @ Jul 14th 2009 3:04PM
"I also challenge that an obscure handheld console that didn't survive a year (less than 6 months in the US, where I live) is "common knowledge." "
You're commenting on a video game blog filled with "hardcore" gamers where this *is* considered to be common knowledge.
Sly @ Jul 14th 2009 3:14PM
yup, the gizmondo lives up there with the N-gage and dreamcast when it comes to video game legends.
Dakar @ Jul 14th 2009 3:20PM
Alright, I apologize guys.
I apologize I haven't been here the 3+ years it would have taken to have heard about the Gizmondo in it's heyday.
I apologize for getting the clearly different terms Gizmondo and Gizmodo confused and not knowing the difference to begin with.
I apologize that I had the audacity to reveal my ignorance and ask for clarification.
I'd ask what i could do to earn your forgiveness, but I suspect you guys enjoyed giving me shit way more than the actual article itself. So really, you guys should be thanking me.
Until next time, gentlemen. My asshole hurts.
OnToGloryReturns @ Jul 14th 2009 3:31PM
No problem, welcome to the internet. Now flog yourself in penance with a Wii Nunchuck and put some Ben-Gay on your a**hole.
When you're done return to post again with a greater depth of understanding of the workings of Joystiq - all is forgiven.
Crazy-008 @ Jul 14th 2009 3:36PM
To everyone dissing Dakar's knowledge of Gizmondo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbE_nRgmkA8
Captain Planet @ Jul 14th 2009 3:39PM
@ Sly
Don't you EVER put the the N-Gage or the Gizmondo on the same level as the Dreamcast again or I will come to your house and proceed to beat the living holy shit out of you and your three legged dog "Andy".
Mr Khan @ Jul 14th 2009 4:30PM
I actually agree with Captain Planet (for once). Gizmondo lives in the gaming hall of shame with the Virtual Boy and the TurboExpress, not amid the short-lived legends
Sly @ Jul 14th 2009 7:38PM
no, i didn't mean the dreamcast was as shitty as the n-gage or gizmondo. i just meant that they're all legendary consoles to gamers. and thanks khan, i forgot about the abomination that was the virtual boy.
Crazy-008 @ Jul 15th 2009 9:53AM
Virtua boy rocked.... but my rods and cones are still recovering....
Storm Eagle::The Blood Edge @ Jul 14th 2009 2:19PM
It's cool. Apparently that bastard has two Enzo's.
Sly @ Jul 14th 2009 3:16PM
the dude deserves life or the death sentence for destroying an enzo. that's unacceptable. they shouldn't allow him to have 2, there are much better people that deserve an enzo.
Squirtforce @ Jul 14th 2009 2:21PM
When does the game based on his life come out? Like GTA if it huffed butane all night and couldn't find it's pants.
Stevetrop @ Jul 14th 2009 2:23PM
Book 'em Danno
WREturns @ Jul 14th 2009 2:28PM
"Bake 'em away, Toys."
Storm Eagle::The Blood Edge @ Jul 14th 2009 3:17PM
+1 for the Chief Wiggum Reference
WINterfang @ Jul 14th 2009 2:28PM
This guy is too awesome to be human.
JayVe @ Jul 14th 2009 2:30PM
What happened to the photo of the Enzo?
Jrinswand @ Jul 14th 2009 2:33PM
My best guess is that Joystiq is terrified of being tracked down and shot by a couple of thugs for making fun of Eriksson.
Honestly, though, I'd much rather look at a picture of a bifurcated Enzo than a Gizmondo anydy.
XLM @ Jul 14th 2009 2:36PM
Most likely they changed it because Dakar was confused.
Ben Gilbert @ Jul 14th 2009 2:43PM
Had to change it due to the photo rights (basically, we're not allowed to use the photo and I didn't realize that -- whoops!). I prefer the image of the Enzo too, I assure you. But if you're hankerin' for an AOL-flavored car fix, why not check out Autoblog.com? (I kid! I kid!)
XBL: Burritoclock PSN:Herbie Hat @ Jul 14th 2009 3:12PM
Use mine:
http://yfrog.com/5senzoj
Sly @ Jul 14th 2009 3:17PM
that picture of the enzo makes me depressed. i much rather prefer the gizmondo picture.
uncle jesse @ Jul 14th 2009 2:57PM
Thanks for the free parking
Local Mafioso @ Jul 14th 2009 3:53PM
"Fat-Steffe", as his local nickname is, was in fact the leader of the Uppsala-mafia, not the "Swedish Mafia" (there are several organized groups in Sweden, but none that dominate). His earlier exploits mainly revolve around loan sharking and beating up people who couldn't pay back.
Common knowledge, around here. (I live in Uppsala, Sweden.)