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Authors: Randy Singer
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the top criminal-defense attorneys in the region. And, in the eyes of his successor, one of the most despised.
That was why, six years after Al-Latif, when the Feds received an anonymous tip about insider trading being orchestrated by a partner at Kilgore and Strobel, it didn’t surprise the new U.S. Attorney to find Elias King’s digital fingerprints all over the anonymous offshore accounts. The man was using information about deals being pursued by firm clients to buy or sell stock of those clients’ companies before the deals were made public. The firm lawyered up, as did Elias King. His first call was to his old nemesis, Harry McNaughten.
“After the Al-Latif verdict,” Elias said, “I always said that if I ever got into trouble, I would call you.”
“Everybody gets lucky once in a while,” Harry said.
They met, Elias paid Harry’s retainer, and the two analyzed what little they knew about the government’s case.
“Based on what you’ve told me,” Harry said, “I’ll be surprised if they proceed. Without a witness to tie it all up, there’s just too much speculation.”
But in that initial meeting, Elias didn’t tell Harry everything. He ignored Harry’s admonition that defense lawyers needed to know every detail about their clients’ lives, both good and bad, that might affect the case. Elias was used to being in control. In his view, certain things needed to remain private.
He didn’t tell Harry about Erica. Or about the affair. Or about the fact that his wife, Julia, had found out.
It would prove to be a costly mistake.
11
THE PRESENT
FORTY-EIGHT HOURS AFTER the initial shock, Erica Jensen still couldn’t believe she was pregnant. That certainly wasn’t part of the plan.
Did she love him? Yes. But that hadn’t been part of the plan either.
When she first started working with Elias King, she had expected him to be controlling and demanding. Manipulative. Win-at-all-costs. The man had a reputation.
She found him to be just the opposite. He was winsome and humble. Yes, he was competitive. But he was also committed to justice and to his clients. He was older than Erica. Yet he had a presence, something magnetic about the way he threw himself into his causes. She hadn’t thought men like that still existed.
In the last two days, everything had changed. On Saturday, Erica learned she was pregnant. On Sunday night, Elias’s wife found out about their affair. Which brought them to this pivotal day. Earlier, at the office,Elias had told Erica they couldn’t see each other anymore. Couldn’t even work together. He would find another place for her at the firm.
In some ways, it made her respect him more. Commitment. Family. These were the things that mattered most.
And now, Erica had her own little family to consider. There was a life growing inside her. A little boy, maybe. She wondered if he would be like Elias. Regardless, he would need his mom. She couldn’t give this baby up for adoption. She would raise the child herself, giving him enough love for two parents. But first, she had to be able to live with herself.
There was a saying: “The truth shall set you free.” She reminded herself of that as she picked up the phone and called the U.S. Attorney’s office. She asked for the person in charge of the investigation at Kilgore and Strobel, and her call was transferred to Mitchell Taylor, an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
“I’ve got some information about the insider trading case you’re investigating,” she said. “I’m willing to testify if you give me immunity.”
“Who is this?”
“I’d rather not say over the phone.”
“What type of information?”
“We need to meet in person. I’ll explain everything then.”
“How do I know you’re legit?” Mitchell asked. “You need to give me something I can check out.”
Erica gave him enough information to convince him that she was to be taken seriously. They argued for a few
That was why, six years after Al-Latif, when the Feds received an anonymous tip about insider trading being orchestrated by a partner at Kilgore and Strobel, it didn’t surprise the new U.S. Attorney to find Elias King’s digital fingerprints all over the anonymous offshore accounts. The man was using information about deals being pursued by firm clients to buy or sell stock of those clients’ companies before the deals were made public. The firm lawyered up, as did Elias King. His first call was to his old nemesis, Harry McNaughten.
“After the Al-Latif verdict,” Elias said, “I always said that if I ever got into trouble, I would call you.”
“Everybody gets lucky once in a while,” Harry said.
They met, Elias paid Harry’s retainer, and the two analyzed what little they knew about the government’s case.
“Based on what you’ve told me,” Harry said, “I’ll be surprised if they proceed. Without a witness to tie it all up, there’s just too much speculation.”
But in that initial meeting, Elias didn’t tell Harry everything. He ignored Harry’s admonition that defense lawyers needed to know every detail about their clients’ lives, both good and bad, that might affect the case. Elias was used to being in control. In his view, certain things needed to remain private.
He didn’t tell Harry about Erica. Or about the affair. Or about the fact that his wife, Julia, had found out.
It would prove to be a costly mistake.
11
THE PRESENT
FORTY-EIGHT HOURS AFTER the initial shock, Erica Jensen still couldn’t believe she was pregnant. That certainly wasn’t part of the plan.
Did she love him? Yes. But that hadn’t been part of the plan either.
When she first started working with Elias King, she had expected him to be controlling and demanding. Manipulative. Win-at-all-costs. The man had a reputation.
She found him to be just the opposite. He was winsome and humble. Yes, he was competitive. But he was also committed to justice and to his clients. He was older than Erica. Yet he had a presence, something magnetic about the way he threw himself into his causes. She hadn’t thought men like that still existed.
In the last two days, everything had changed. On Saturday, Erica learned she was pregnant. On Sunday night, Elias’s wife found out about their affair. Which brought them to this pivotal day. Earlier, at the office,Elias had told Erica they couldn’t see each other anymore. Couldn’t even work together. He would find another place for her at the firm.
In some ways, it made her respect him more. Commitment. Family. These were the things that mattered most.
And now, Erica had her own little family to consider. There was a life growing inside her. A little boy, maybe. She wondered if he would be like Elias. Regardless, he would need his mom. She couldn’t give this baby up for adoption. She would raise the child herself, giving him enough love for two parents. But first, she had to be able to live with herself.
There was a saying: “The truth shall set you free.” She reminded herself of that as she picked up the phone and called the U.S. Attorney’s office. She asked for the person in charge of the investigation at Kilgore and Strobel, and her call was transferred to Mitchell Taylor, an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
“I’ve got some information about the insider trading case you’re investigating,” she said. “I’m willing to testify if you give me immunity.”
“Who is this?”
“I’d rather not say over the phone.”
“What type of information?”
“We need to meet in person. I’ll explain everything then.”
“How do I know you’re legit?” Mitchell asked. “You need to give me something I can check out.”
Erica gave him enough information to convince him that she was to be taken seriously. They argued for a few
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