Chapter 11 - The Legal Trap
The criminal trial began a year later.
By then, my father had been convicted of forgery. My mother had been convicted of fraud. Brandon had been convicted of money laundering and embezzlement.
They were all sentenced to prison.
But the story wasn't over.
The FBI had expanded their investigation. They had found evidence of other crimes. Other victims. Other schemes.
My family had been running scams for years.
They had defrauded investors. They had laundered money. They had evaded taxes.
And now they were going to pay.
The prosecutor called me as a witness. I testified for two hours. I told them everything. The birthday dinner. The college fund. The shell company. The threats.
When I stepped down, the judge looked at my parents.
"I've been on the bench for twenty years," she said. "I've seen a lot of criminals. But I've never seen a family so willing to destroy one of their own."
She sentenced them to fifteen years each.
My father screamed. My mother cried. Brandon was silent.
I watched them being led away. I didn't feel joy. I didn't feel sadness. I just felt tired.
I walked out of the courthouse and got into my car.
I drove to Grandpa's house. I sat in his study. I looked at his photographs. I read his letter.
Then I made a decision.
I was going to leave Dallas. I was going to go to college. I was going to start a new life.
I packed my bags. I said goodbye to Elena and Patricia. I locked the house.
May you like
Then I drove away.
I didn't look back.
