Duplicity - A True Story of Crime and Deceit by Paul Goldman (surface ebook reader txt) 📗

Audrey spoke the names Neiman Marcus and Jimmy Chooas if they were a total mystery to her, in what was turning out tobe a laughable performance.

“Thank you, Ms. Munson. Now,having testified that your income is only $1,600 a month, where didthe money come from to spend over $2,500 in these two stores in LasVegas in only one day?”

“I bought those items for afriend. His credit card was not working,” Audrey explained, shakingher head. Throughout our short-lived marriage, Audrey had alwayskept her closet locked, an obvious attempt to conceal her appetitefor designer labels. As for Las Vegas, well that was an interestingmid-week trip for a stay-at-home mom engaged to another man. Ihanded Adam our next exhibit.

“Ms. Munson, please read these twoemails to the court, in which you told Mr. Goldman, during yourengagement period, that you would be in Cocoa Beach caring for yourailing grandmother several days each week.” Adam handed her thefirst email.

All I can offer is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday untilaround 6 p.m. What kind of marriage is that?

Adam handed her another email.

Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve been able to readmy email. Been real busy. Grandma is not well, she is mentallyfailing. With this new issue comes change, just a flop in schedule.Now I will be gone Saturday through Wednesday.

“Now, Ms. Munson, please take alook at your debit charges from your bank account for the days youwere supposedly in Cocoa Beach. You see there are no debit chargesin Cocoa Beach, but a lot in Jupiter and this local area. Ms.Munson, you were never in Cocoa Beach caring for your grandmother,were you?” Adam’s tone was very matter-of-fact, doing hisbest “Columbo” impression.

“I was in Cocoa Beach, andJupiter, and Stuart,” Audrey lied. Adam smiled back at her, whileshaking his head. He then returned to our table and collected thenext batch of exhibits, focusing on the Florida Health Companyfraud.

“Ms. Munson, did you create afictitious name entity called FLHC, tell Mr. Goldman it wasFlorida Health Company, and obtain a check in the amount of $6,930from him, telling him it was for health insurance for you and yourkids?”

“I’m very sorry and ashamed aboutthat. I was so desperate for money after he kicked me out of thehouse in February,” Audrey defended herself, trying to refocus thefault on me for kicking her out.

“But, Ms. Munson, you createdthese entities before you were kicked out of the house, in January,not in February, when you were still happily married.”

Audrey stared back at him, and said nothing. Adampaused and allowed the silence to sink in. I wanted to scream atAdam, “Make her respond! Make her answer the question!” but insteadI sat quietly in my seat, transfixed along with everyone else inthe courtroom. A single spiral of Audrey's hair fell from itsplace, but Audrey made no motion. Adam moved on to Audrey’s nextfraud.

“Ms. Munson, please read to thecourt these two emails written by you in February 2008, in whichyou demanded that Mr. Goldman put your name on hisassets,”

Adam instructed, handing the first email to Audrey.She stared at the page for a moment before reaching out to take it.Despite the damaging evidence presented so far, Audrey was not theleast bit rattled. She remained expressionless, and cleared herthroat before she began to read.

I don’t remember my name on everything (fromthe business to the cars, from the houses to the bank accounts,etc. As for full disclosures, I already told you no problem but Ialso would like your full disclosure of all transactions andholding. Let me know when you have all this prepared and then wecan start to be equal an honest, trusting, loyal, gentle languagedfamily

Audrey quickly looked over at her lawyerbefore continuing to the next email.

Please justify to me why a person wouldtreat their son any different than their wife. The son haseverything in his name along with his father. However, his wife hasmerely a home in California (not Jupiter, not Boynton Beach, noteven the car that was bought for her to drive) in their jointname.

She finished reading and returned the page toAdam.

“Ms. Munson, why did you writethese emails to Mr. Goldman, demanding that he put your name on hisassets?”

“I wanted us to be equal,” Audreydirected her answer to the judge, her eyes widening in feignedinnocence.

“Ms. Munson, was the only way youcould be equal was to have your name on all his assets?” Noresponse. The silence was palpable before Adam went on calmly tothe next exhibit. He showed Audrey the Nerve.com dating site profile shemade after we had spent only twenty-five days together as husbandand wife, in which she wrote her “relationship status” as“single.”

“Ms. Munson, please take a look atthis profile from the internet dating site Nerve.com. Your Honor, this profile,obtained from the hard drive of Mr. Goldman’s computer, was createdon December 19, 2007, five days after the closing of the Californiaproperty. The ‘Username’ of the profile is ‘Lady_Audrey_3,’ as youcan see.” Adam pointed out the name on the exhibit for the judgebefore returning to Audrey. “Ms. Munson, please read to the courtthe answer you typed in for the question, ‘What I am looking for ina person?’”

A person that will help me test the laws ofphysics.

“Well, that's a peculiarphrase, Ms. Munson. What does that mean?” Audrey simply stared athim, and said nothing. After a moment, Adam continued, “Now, pleaseread to the court the answer typed in to the question,‘Relationship Status?’”

Single.

“Thank you, Ms. Munson.Ms. Munson, did you create this profile, looking for a new husband,advertising yourself as single, on the date stated, knowing as youdid that your name was on the deed to the California property andit had over $200,000 of equity?” Adam turned and started walkingback to the table.

“No,” was Audrey'sresponse, denying the obvious. At that, Adam's head spun around, helooked at her incredulously, glanced over at the judge, and thencontinued his progress to get the next exhibit from me. Hecollected her fraudulent “Affidavitof Indigency” exhibit from my hand and calmly walked back over to Audrey.The affidavit had been created by Audrey in an attempt to overturnWelfare’s decision to take away her welfare benefits.Welfare claimed she did not qualify for them,because she had