American Tax Officer

At this moment, the members of the Camora Family looked deathly pale, their eyes almost bursting from their sockets.

This business model had been built through Herculean efforts by their family. It wasn't perfect, but it was solid as an old dog. If any part of it failed, they had margins for error that would allow them to weasel out of any charges.

What they hadn't anticipated was that the Western Suburb Branch would be so ruthless as to arrest all the heads of each segment of the model, and under their layered accusations, all fingers ultimately pointed at the family. Now they were helpless, unable to defend themselves even with a dozen tongues.

"To the defense, do you have anything to say in rebuttal to these testimonies and evidence?"

No one from the Camora family responded after these words, and their lawyer, Cathy, hung her head in helplessness.

Seeing this, Nicola didn't waste any more words and simply began to declare, "In that case, I will now announce the verdict, the accused..."

"Wait, Your Honor,"

Rickel interrupted, looking at those in the defendant's booth who used to address him as a brother or a peer, and finding that they had no intention of speaking for him, he turned back and gritted his teeth, "Your Honor, since the Western Suburbs branch has already traced our properties in the Swiss Bank, if I transfer all this money back to pay taxes, can I obtain criminal immunity?"

As a decision-maker in the Camora family, Rickel certainly understood the principle of keeping a green hill to not fear a lack of firewood. In such a scenario, if he could trade wealth for exemption from punishment, it would be the best possible outcome.

Dealing with 1.5 billion US dollars, Nicola didn't dare make a decision on her own and could only look to David for a response.

David, however, didn't even hesitate and immediately denied the request, "Everyone criticizes our IRS court for being arbitrary, but what I want to refute is that we are fair, transparent, and the courtroom is a sacred place, not a market for making deals with criminals. So, Mr. Rickel, you'd better give up on that thought!"

Setting aside that they were using the Camora family as an example to deter those attacking the Black Tax Law, the fact it was being broadcast live across the nation meant David was not about to agree to a deal that could tarnish the courtroom's integrity.

Nicola quickly grasped the situation as well and loudly declared, "Director David is right. The courtroom is a sacred place, not a venue for deals with criminals. I will now announce the sentence!"

"Rickel Camorra, for the proven charges of organized crime, drug trafficking, homicide, tax evasion, and other offenses, you are hereby sentenced to 1200 years of imprisonment, with no possibility of parole, and all personal assets will be forfeited!"

"Bowersen Camorra, for the proven charges of organized crime, drug trafficking, homicide, tax evasion, and other offenses, you are hereby sentenced to 1200 years of imprisonment, with no possibility of parole, and all personal assets will be forfeited!"

"Victoria Camorra..."

Although many could have predicted that the Camora family, having meddled with the Black Tax Law, would certainly be made an example of with a harsh sentence.

Yet, when the sentence of over 1200 years was announced again, it caused great tumult both in the hearts of those present in the courtroom and those watching the live broadcast.

As for the criminals who had been stirring up opposition to the Black Tax Law, they too were deeply shaken at this moment, and their resolve to continue supporting Senator Phipps's criticism of the law was significantly weakened.

Spectators were affected just by witnessing the event, not to mention the actual members of the Camora family who stood as if they had been drained of their souls, dumbfounded at the spot.

"Take them away!"

Only upon hearing these two words did the members of the Camora family snap out of their trance. One of the younger members screamed at the top of his lungs, "I won't accept this! This is an abuse of vigilante justice. I will appeal!"

"Fake, David, you bastard, just you wait, the people of the Camora family won't let this go!"

"..."

The infuriated members of the Camora family continued to hurl abuses and direct their attacks at David personally in the courtroom.

But what no one expected was that Bowersen suddenly turned his head to look at Senator Phipps and a few members of Phipps seated in the spectators' gallery and roared, "Phipps, Prinhol, Timothy, are you just going to watch us get such harsh sentences?"

He didn't care about dragging more people down with him; at this point, if they were to die, they'd all die together!

Bowersen's words were indeed shocking.

True, everyone present knew that the Phipps's three members had intricate ties with the Camora Family due to the tax law scandal, but to actually speak of it openly, wasn't that tantamount to giving up their own accomplices?

Furthermore, it must be remembered that today's court was not a closed session, but a public trial for the whole world to see, with so many spectators and dignitaries watching, how could those three descend the stage with dignity?

"Watt, is this tax evader named Bowersen implying that the Phipps's members have connections with them?"

"The reason Phipps attacked the tax legislation was mainly to gain support from criminals, and isn't the Camora Family the underworld leader in Los Angeles? They must be related."

"Now that the senators are implicated, there's going to be a show!"

The audience initially thought the trial was over but didn't expect there to be an 'after-dinner treat', which immediately made them widen their eyes in anticipation of the gossip to follow.

At the trial on this side.

Even though the three Phipps were old foxes in the political arena, they were caught off guard by Bowersen's sudden statement, each of them flushed and cursing Bowersen internally.

But, curses aside, they definitely had to do damage control. Phipps steadied himself and stood up to shout, "First of all, I must clarify to the audience here and watching on television, I, Senator Phipps, how could I possibly have any contact with these criminals!" Your journey continues at empire

"It is purely slander from these people, trying to use the status of a senator to pressure the court and fish in troubled waters, don't pay too much attention to him lest their tricks succeed!"

Phipps's acting skills indeed were seasoned.

Despite being the focus of so many strange glances, he still managed to stabilize his mindset and spin the situation around quickly.

"Senator Phipps is right, we criticized the tax legislation because it has many defects, not because we wanted to side with these criminals, let alone have any involvement with them, they're merely trying to use our senatorial status to create trouble!"

"Hmph, they're on their deathbed and still spouting nonsense, Your Honor, please have them taken away quickly, to prevent further nonsensical talk!"

Following Phipps, Prinhol Fubin and Timothy Walker, the other two senators, also promptly stood up, reproaching with morally upright indignation.

David, observing the skillful performance of these three, couldn't help but lament that if these guys weren't in politics but in show business instead, they might all be in the running for an Oscar for Best Actor.

"Take them away, this court session is concluded!"

As Nicola's words fell, this interlude also came to an end. Perhaps due to their guilty conscience, the three Phipps didn't dare to stay a moment longer and left in haste.

But overall, today's courtroom provided a spectacle for the audience, enlightening them on the procedures of an IRS trial.

And what slightly changed their perspective was that the IRS courtroom trials, rumored always to be undemocratic and lacking in human rights, didn't seem to be the case after all today.

At least, whether it was members of the Camora Family or lawyers, both had the right to defend themselves, it was just that under the comprehensive testimony and evidence provided by the Western Suburb Branch, their defenses seemed so pale and powerless.