Chapter 746: US Courthouse
Thursday, March 23rd, Afternoon
In Manhattan, just west of the famous streets of Mott and Mulberry, a judicial complex stood in the neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, also west of Chinatown. Across Worth Street from Columbus Park, where the New York County Supreme Court, US District Court - Southern District of New York, and US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit stood, was the building she was going to. The building she was going to and stood in the shadow of had a ridiculously long name: the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse.
Fallon took a few deep breaths and wondered when her attorney would arrive. It would be the first time they met face to face, as everything they did was over Zoom and the phone. With a sigh, Fallon thought this was hopeless, and she'd end up in federal prison. Hopefully, it would be a nice country club prison; Fallon didn't think with her petite frame, she'd do well doing a Hard Time.
"Ms. Stafford?" a male voice asked.
Fallon turned to see, in a plain gray suit, her attorney, Tracey Blackwood, Esq. She nodded,
"Mister Blackwood," she said.
"How are you feeling?" Blackwood asked.
"Nervous, scared, resigned," Fallon said.
"Don't worry, that's why I'm here; the bad news is this is the Sovereign District of New York; they can be aggressive," Blackwood said.
"The good news?" Fallon asked.
"You came forward with this, always a plus," Blackwood replied.
"Why?" Fallon asked.
"Well, they see themselves as the Sheriff of Wall Street, and those are white-collar financial crimes, well, the Wolf of Wall Street had his bones picked by these people," Blackwood said.
"I see," Fallon said, "Let's go then."
"Impressive, isn't it? But we're not going into that building," Blackwood said.
"We're not? Then why are we here?" Fallon asked.
"Second largest federal courthouse, it's impressive, isn't it?" Blackwood said.
"Yeah, but why meet here?" Fallon asked.
"Wanted you to understand how serious this is; your money won't protect you," Blackwood said.
"I've never seen my money as a shield, more of a millstone," Fallon said.
Blackwood nodded, "Good, let's go," he said.
"Led the way," Fallon said.
They walked the short distance to the Southern District of New York office building. They were checked in and told where to be. Fallon found herself in a conference room, staring at the walls.
Finally, Assistant US Attorney Geraldine Jakeman entered and put a file on the table. She looked over the two people.
"Blackwood, what are you doing here?" Jakeman asked.
"Ms. Stafford is my client," Blackwood said.
"So, how did you find Ms. Stafford?" Jakeman asked.
"Carmichael," Blackwood said.
"Caroline Carmichael? Interesting," Jakeman said.
"So, business?" Blackwood asked.
"Ms. Stafford," Jakeman said.
"Ms. Jakeman," Fallon said.
Jakeman nodded and opened her file. "Yes, now let me put this out there; there have been several serious crimes committed here," Jakeman said.
"My client is aware," Blackwood said.
"We have enough to start making arrests, and we're about to have the warrants issued," Jakeman said.
"So, why are we here?" Blackwood asked.
"Mainly, it's a courtesy call, and you, Ms. Stafford, will be arrested as well," Jakeman said.
"Wait, my client was the one who brought this to your attention," Blackwood said.
"Which we are grateful, but since Ms. Stafford is the head of the foundation, and as the saying goes, the buck stops here," Jakeman said.
"So, what are we looking at?" Blackwood asked.
"Time in a federal facility," Jakeman said.
"We brought this to you; her testimony is key, and it's simple: we want something for it," Blackwood said.
"You could turn state's evidence," Jakeman said.
"Are we talking a deal?" Blackwood asked.
"I would like a deal, yes," Jakeman said.
"What are we talking?" Blackwood asked.
"Three years suspended sentence," Jakeman said.
Fallon shook her head, "No, I would love to be able to cut away the people who did this. This is my family's legacy, this is my sister's birthright, I want to protect the foundation," Fallon said.
"Ms. Stafford," Blackwood said.
"Are you willing to take the fall?" Jakeman asked.
Fallon looked at Jakeman and kept her mouth shut.
"So, you'll agree to my terms?" Jakeman asked.
Fallon leaned over and whispered into Blackwood's ear. He turned to Jakeman. "We want full immunity," Blackwood said.
"Will you testify?" Jakeman asked.
"Full immunity, and my client will testify," Blackwood said.
"Will she be willing to get arrested as well?" Jakeman asked.
"No, public pictures of her being arrested, my client has shunned the spotlight. Her perp walking won't have the impact you're looking for," Blackwood said.
"But we have to hide who informed on them. We need to keep the act up," Jakeman said.
Fallon leaned over to Blackwood and whispered in his ear. He nodded and looked at Jakeman. "We want one more thing," he said.
"That would be?" Jakeman asked.
"Go easy on Elliott Stafford; he didn't know what he was signing," Blackwood said.
"Are you sure about this?" Jakeman asked.
"Mister Stafford is a distant relation and hasn't been part of the foundation. Unless there is evidence otherwise, he was used for his name," Blackwood said.
"If Elliott Stafford wasn't involved, we will go easy on him," Jakeman said.
Fallon nodded.
"So, full immunity for my client for her to testify, and going light on Elliott Stafford, that's the deal," Blackwood said.
"Yes, as long as Ms. Stafford will go along with everything," Jakeman said.
Blackwood looked at Fallon. Fallon nodded, and Blackwood turned to Jakeman,
"We have a deal," Blackwood said.
Fallon solemnly nodded and felt like she made a deal with the devil.