Chapter 15 - The Grand Jury Indictment
The following Thursday, the Southern District of New York unsealed a sweeping thirty-two-count federal indictment.
The charges against Garrett Sterling read like a textbook on white-collar sociopathy:
- Aggravated Identity Theft (4 counts)
- Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (12 counts)
- Money Laundering (8 counts)
- Inter-state Transportation of Stolen Property (4 counts)
- Misdemeanor and Aggravated Domestic Assault (2 counts)
- Forgery of Legal Instruments (2 counts)
Vivian Sterling was indicted as a co-conspirator on twelve counts of wire fraud, grand larceny, and felony burglary with a weapon following her break-in at my home.
Because Vivian had used a weapon to force entry while shouting threats against my life, the state judge revoked her bail entirely. Mother and son were now both housed in secure holding facilities awaiting trial.
I sat in Marcus Cole’s office, watching the federal prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Chen, announce the indictments on live television.
"These defendants operated a predatory scheme targeting a vulnerable family estate," Chen declared to the bank of news cameras. "They utilized manipulation, forgery, and domestic intimidation to systematically strip millions of dollars from corporate accounts. The Department of Justice will seek the maximum statutory penalty: up to twenty-five years for Garrett Sterling, and fifteen years for Vivian Sterling."
Marcus turned off the screen with a satisfied click of his remote.
"The plea negotiations started this morning," Marcus said, sliding a folder across the desk. "Julian Vance called. He says Garrett will plead guilty to all fraud counts if we agree to drop the domestic assault charges and recommend a reduced sentence of eight years."
I picked up the document, looked at Garrett’s signature on the proposed plea offer, and dropped it straight into the shredder beside Marcus’s desk.
The blades ground the paper into useless white ribbons.
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"Tell Julian," I said, "that I don't negotiate with criminals. I will see Garrett Sterling in open court."
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