If I robbed a bank, could I get off with a "scolding"?

And get to keep the money?

A report from Pro Publica, the excellent investigative journalism site, tells me that crime does indeed pay, and quite well at that!

I do solemnly swear to steal as much as I possibly can, and to lie about it without reservation to anyone and everyone:

Current and former executives of credit rating agencies are sworn in during a hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Oct. 22, 2008. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Moody’s Escapes SEC Lawsuit, Now Moves to Shield Itself From Liability

The money shot:

Despite allegations that Moody’s Investors Service, one of the three major credit rating agencies, committed fraud when it failed to fix what it knew was an erroneous rating, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced on Tuesday that it wouldn’t sue the rating agency. It instead settled for a scolding, directed at ratings agencies generally.