Chapter 9 - The Sentencing
The verdicts came back after only four hours of deliberation.
Guilty on all counts.
Julian, because of his relative lack of involvement in the cyber attack and his eventual, pathetic cooperation with the feds, was sentenced to three years in federal prison for conspiracy and corporate espionage.
Todd, the nephew who planted the backdoor, received five years.
But Victoria Sterling was the mastermind. The judge looked down at her with absolute disgust.
"Victoria Sterling," the judge's voice echoed like thunder, "your actions demonstrate a profound and shocking lack of morality. You orchestrated a campaign of theft, extortion, and cyber-terrorism, all driven by insatiable greed and a misguided sense of superiority. You weaponized your own family. You are a danger to the corporate sector and society at large."
The sentence was devastating. Twelve years in federal prison, without the possibility of parole, and a massive restitution fine that would wipe out whatever personal wealth she had managed to hide.
As the bailiffs moved in to handcuff her, Victoria turned and looked at me one last time. There was no rage left in her eyes. Only the hollow, terrifying realization that she had dug her own grave.
"Elena," she rasped, her voice breaking. "Please."
I stood up from the gallery, smoothing my jacket. I didn't offer her a smile, and I didn't offer her pity.
May you like
"Goodbye, Victoria," I said quietly.
I turned and walked out of the courtroom, into the bright sunlight of the city, leaving the Sterling legacy in ruins behind me.
