Chapter 6 - The Web of Co-Conspirators
As the morning unfolded, the federal net widened far beyond Dominic Ward and his corrupt police captain.
In City Hall, two prominent councilmen who had greenlit lucrative municipal contracts for Dominic's front companies were greeted at their office doors by armed federal agents. Their secretaries watched in stunned silence as the politicians were escorted out in handcuffs, their political careers obliterated in a matter of seconds.
News vans quickly swarmed the downtown streets. By 8:00 AM, local news anchors were broadcasting breaking reports across every major network: “Shocking Federal Sweep Destroys Local Syndicate; Prominent Business Tycoon Dominic Ward Arrested in Midnight Raid.”
Footage of Dominic being led out of his mansion in handcuffs played on a continuous loop. Viewers who had admired him at charity galas watched in horror as the true face of the polished philanthropist was exposed to the world.
Inside her chambers at the United States District Court, Judge Victoria Sterling watched the broadcast on her muted television screen. Her phone buzzed continuously with text messages from colleagues, local politicians, and media outlets demanding statements. She ignored them all.
Her judicial clerk knocked softly on the open door and stepped inside, holding a fresh stack of court filings.
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“Your Honor, the prosecution is requesting an expedited arraignment for Ward and his co-conspirators,” the clerk reported. “Defense counsel has filed a motion for bail, but given the severity of the flight risk and the newly uncovered witness intimidation charges, it’s virtually dead on arrival.”
“Schedule the arraignment for 2:00 PM sharp,” Victoria instructed without looking up from her desk. “And ensure strict security protocols are in place. No special treatment.”
