Chapter 9 - THE FALL OF RICHARD VALE
The trial of United States v. Richard Vale did not take long.
Faced with overwhelming forensic evidence, federal bank trails, and the testimonies of his former board members, Richard Vale pled guilty to federal procurement fraud, corporate tax evasion, and reckless endangerment of military personnel.
On the day of his sentencing, I sat in the second row of the federal courtroom in Richmond. I was not there out of vengeance, but to close the chapter forever.
Richard was brought in wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, his hands cuffed at his waist. His hair was completely gray, his posture stooped, his vanity entirely stripped away.
His defense attorney gave a weak plea for leniency, citing Richard’s age and past standing in the business community.
The judge, a stern federal magistrate, looked over his glasses at Richard with utter disdain.
"Mr. Vale," the judge declared, his voice cold and resonant. "You were blessed with a family of extraordinary talent and honor. Your oldest daughter risked her life for her country and bore the physical marks of her bravery. Yet, out of greed and vanity, you treated her sacrifice as an inconvenience and put hundreds of other young sailors in harm's way."
The judge slammed his gavel down. "I sentence you to twelve years in a federal penitentiary, with full restitution of forty-two million dollars."
As the marshals led Richard away, he stopped for a brief second beside my row.
He looked at me. He looked at the visible scars running along my neck and collarbone—the skin he had called an imperfection, the marks he had tried to hide beneath lace and lies.
"Evelyn..." he rasped, tears finally spilling from his sunken eyes. "I'm sorry..."
I looked at him calmly. I didn't yell. I didn't gloat.
May you like
"I hope you find peace, Richard," I said quietly.
He was led through the heavy steel doors, and for the first time in my life, the weight of his expectations lifted off my shoulders completely.
