Chapter 15 - Natalie’s Offer
Natalie’s lawyer proposed cooperation.
She would plead to federal wire fraud and related identity/document offense in exchange for dismissal or consolidation of certain overlapping counts.
She would admit:
Creating lookalike email domain.
Submitting fraudulent invoices.
Using company vendor information.
Attempting shareholder portal access.
Creating fake insurance form.
Preparing altered POA packet.
Pressuring Clara.
Deleting cloud files after notice.
In return, prosecution would consider cooperation regarding Richard’s involvement and recommend sentencing within agreed framework, not guarantee.
I asked Laura:
“Does she have anything on Dad?”
“Possibly.”
“What?”
“Natalie claims Richard knew about invoice fraud earlier than he admits.”
My stomach tightened.
Evidence?
A voice memo.
Natalie had recorded a conversation with Dad.
Why?
Insurance.
Everyone in my family had started collecting leverage.
The memo:
Natalie:
I already took money through vendor channel.
Richard:
How much?
Natalie:
Enough.
Richard:
Jesus Christ.
Natalie:
I can put it back if you help me stall audit.
Richard:
Andrew can never know.
That was devastating.
Date:
Two weeks before Chicago.
Dad knew.
Not amount.
Not mechanics.
But knew money was taken through company vendor channel and agreed to help stall audit.
His earlier claim that he thought it was “paperwork mistake” was incomplete.
He had minimized.
Again.
Richard’s counsel entered negotiations.
Potential obstruction/conspiracy exposure.
He had not submitted invoices.
He had not accessed systems.
But he knew and tried to help interfere with audit through proxy scheme.
The prosecution treated that seriously.
Clara asked:
“Does it make you hate him?”
“Yes.”
Simple.
“And love him?”
I looked at her.
“Yes.”
Both.
That was the hardest part.
Natalie also offered to plead to misdemeanor assault involving Clara, with restitution and no contact.
Clara had input but not veto over prosecution.
She said:
“I don’t need her in prison for my wrist.”
“What do you need?”
“I need her to admit she did it.”
Natalie’s proposed factual statement said:
I intentionally grabbed Clara Carter’s wrist during an argument and used enough force to cause bruising.
No “she provoked me.”
No “I panicked.”
That mattered.
Clara accepted emotionally.
Prosecutors handled law.
Then Natalie requested permission to write Toby a letter.
We said no.
Not now.
Her lawyer asked about Lucy.
Absolutely no.
Children were not instruments for adult remorse.
Natalie’s sentencing would come later.
But before that, one final twist arrived.
The stolen $144,700 was not all gone.
A large portion had been used to buy something.
A cashier’s check for $70,000.
Payee:
Carter Family Holdings LLC.
I had never heard of it.
May you like
Registered agent:
Richard Carter.
