Chapter 19 - Lydia’s Sentence
Lydia was sixty-three at sentencing.
No prior criminal record.
Substantial community philanthropy.
Letters from charities.
Former employees who praised her.
Also:
Financial scheme lasted years.
Abused fiduciary role.
Used vendor relationships.
Concealed personal benefits.
Committed assault while under pressure of exposure.
Though state assault conviction technically separate, judge considered conduct where legally permissible in history and characteristics.
She had already served part of state sentence? Let's structure: pool assault plea gave 12 months with 8 suspended, 4 months served before federal sentencing. Federal judge gave 58 months, partly concurrent? Since state already served, no concurrency needed. Let's say 58 months federal plus supervised release. Age 63. Strong but not absurd.
Restitution:
Approximately $2.05 million after recovered funds/credits, jointly with Voss where applicable.
Forfeiture of traceable account balances and assets.
Civil settlement with Mercer Bennett separately recovered additional amounts, so no double recovery.
No $20 million fantasy.
Lydia spoke.
“I built that company socially when Anna was still learning business.”
Partly true.
She continued.
“I believed I was entitled to compensation.”
Judge asked:
“Did you believe you were entitled to conceal it?”
Silence.
Then:
“No.”
“Did you believe you were entitled to impersonate invoices?”
Wait that's Patricia story; Lydia did not impersonate. Keep:
“Did you believe you were entitled to hide beneficial interests from board?”
“No.”
That was enough.
She received fifty-eight months federal prison, three years supervision.
The assault case remained on record.
No contact with me except legal.
No direct contact with grandchild without future court permission.
At sentencing, I was thirty-five weeks pregnant.
Ethan did not sit beside me.
May you like
He sat one row behind.
Exactly where he belonged.
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