Chapter 23 - The VerdictThe federal trial of United States v. Julian Thorne and Aiden Thorne lasted exactly four days.
With the mountain of forensic accounting evidence, corporate wiretap logs, and Lily’s sworn medical testimony regarding her illegal confinement, the defense team didn't even attempt to mount an argument. They simply folded their briefs and advised their clients to plead for mercy.
Federal Judge Harrison presided over the final sentencing hearing in a packed courtroom in downtown Manhattan.
"The crimes committed by the defendants represent a profound, calculated betrayal of public trust, corporate integrity, and basic human decency," Judge Harrison declared, his voice echoing sternly through the oak-paneled room. "Using corporate power to falsely imprison an innocent young woman and ruin an innocent man's life is a blight upon our judicial system."
He banged his gavel with final authority.
"I sentence Julian Thorne and Aiden Thorne to forty-five years each in federal maximum-security correctional custody without the possibility of parole."
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As the federal marshals clicked the steel cuffs around Julian and Aiden’s wrists and led them away in chains, Julian caught a final glimpse of Abraham Yates sitting quietly in the front row of the gallery.
Abraham didn't gloat. He simply tipped his head slightly, acknowledging the definitive end of an era, before standing up and walking out of the courtroom into the bright afternoon sunlight.
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