Chapter 16 - Guilty
Guilty.
On bank fraud conspiracy.
Guilty.
On aggravated identity theft.
Guilty.
On wire fraud relating to attempted international transfer.
Guilty.
On conspiracy to defraud Sterling Crown through undisclosed related party vendor arrangement.
Guilty on several false document counts.
Not guilty on one broader theft count alleging all Briarline payments were stolen because the jury accepted that Sterling Crown received some legitimate services.
Good.
Not every dollar.
Then one count involving personal card fraud.
Guilty.
Derek sat.
No dramatic scream.
He looked stunned.
I felt nothing at first.
Then my hands went numb.
Catherine whispered:
“Breathe.”
I did.
Then judge remanded Derek pending sentencing due convictions and financial flight considerations.
His attorney argued no violence, local ties.
The court ordered detention based on circumstances? Could be. Maybe he had complied bond. Better court allowed remain on stricter conditions until sentencing? For serious federal fraud, often may remain. Let's say remanded after aggravated identity theft and attempted offshore transfer. Fine.
Derek looked at me before deputies.
No words.
Then outside.
Cameras.
I did not speak.
Catherine did.
One sentence:
“Sterling Crown employees should not be treated as participants in conduct of former executives.”
Then walked.
Good.
Then Brenda sentencing first.
She had cooperated.
Judge imposed thirty months custody plus supervised release and restitution/forfeiture.
Howard Sloan attended.
After court, he spoke to daughter briefly.
Not my business.
Then Derek sentencing.
Financial loss calculation complicated.
Not all $643k.
The court used proven fraud loss including unsupported corporate overpayments, attempted bank transfer, fraudulent credit exposure, personal card fraud, minus recovered funds and legitimate services per guidelines.
No need exact guideline.
Restitution:
To Sterling Crown for net losses/investigation portions as legally ordered.
To bank for losses/costs.
To me for documented identity restoration costs and joint funds misappropriated, around $52,000 plus fees? Could be.
No payment for emotional distress in criminal restitution unless statute. Fine.
Then victim statement.
I wrote.
I did not mention Catherine first.
I said:
“Derek did not take money from me only.”
Then:
“He took access.”
I described bus stop.
No phone.
Cards.
Cash.
The most damaging part was not thirty two dollars.
It was that he had trained me to believe he could decide whether I deserved money I earned.
Then:
“He used my name to create a company and planned to leave debt behind with it.”
Then:
“He also prepared a story in which I was criminal and he was deceived.”
Then:
“I do not ask court to punish him for being a bad husband.”
Good.
“I ask court to sentence crimes.”
Then sat.
Derek spoke.
This time different.
“I lied.”
He looked at judge.
“I told myself Olivia gave permission because I knew she usually gave in after fights.”
My throat tightened.
Then:
“That is not consent.”
Good.
“I used access marriage gave me.”
Then:
“I used her fear of conflict.”
He admitted.
Then Brenda.
“I thought we could build enough money to buy company.”
Then:
“I believed if it worked, nobody would care how.”
Then:
“When I realized audit might expose us, I prepared to blame Olivia.”
There.
Full.
Then:
“I am sorry.”
He looked toward me.
No plea for forgiveness.
Judge sentenced:
Six years and eight months federal custody? With aggravated identity theft mandatory consecutive maybe exact. Let's say seven years total custodial sentence followed by supervised release, restitution, and financial restrictions. This is plausible.
Not twenty.
No violence offense.
Significant fraud and identity theft.
He would be in early forties at release.
Then judge said:
“Marriage provides access. It does not erase ownership, identity, or consent.”
That sentence stayed.
Then criminal case ended.
Appeal later.
Core convictions affirmed, one minor false document count merged, sentence largely unchanged.
Then divorce.
The criminal conviction simplified tracing but did not turn court into revenge.
The judge divided marital property.
I retained pension portion.
Derek retained lawful retirement share after offsets.
My fraudulent card liabilities removed.
Joint funds taken to Briarline counted against Derek’s allocation and criminal restitution coordinated to avoid double recovery.
No double payment.
The car sold.
Furniture.
Done.
Divorce decree.
I returned to Olivia Reed? My maiden name maybe Olivia Harper. User calls Olivia only. Could choose Olivia Carter. Better no need surname change. We had Olivia Bennett from marriage. Maiden maybe Olivia Reed. She requested restoration to Olivia Reed.
At hearing:
“Name?”
“Olivia Marie Reed.”
The judge signed.
I cried over name.
Not because Bennett poisoned.
Because choice.
Then Catherine said:
“I liked Bennett.”
“You never used it.”
“Exactly.”
Thomas laughed.
Then I went home.
My apartment.
I opened wallet.
Cash.
Cards.
Phone.
All mine.
Not symbolic luxury.
Basics.
Then bank balance.
Emergency fund $6,200.
More satisfying than Catherine’s billions.
May you like
Because I knew password.
Continue to the next part: With Derek sentenced and divorce finalized, Olivia has to learn a harder skill than exposing fraud: making ordinary decisions without waiting for permission.
