American Tax Officer

With no other choice, Nicola could only turn her pleading eyes towards David.

At this time, David was also wrestling with his thoughts.

Like Nicola and the others on the stage, he had not anticipated that the eight ringleaders would plead guilty as soon as the trial began.

However, since they had already exhibited such a good attitude in admitting their guilt, it wouldn't be appropriate to impose the same severe sentences as those given to previous criminals.

If they considered lighter sentences, it seemed to be more advantageous for future situations.

Consider this, if a good attitude in admitting guilt could lead to lighter sentencing, then in the future, many other criminals might choose not to confront the Internal Revenue Service defiantly and would certainly cooperate with the IRS in hopes of a lenient treatment.

With this in mind, David made up his mind. He stood up from the spectator's bench, walked down to the judge's seat, and Nicola also leaned forward slightly, wanting to hear his opinion. Find your next read on empire

"Judge Nicola, since the criminals have shown a positive and good attitude in admitting their guilt, I believe they should be given a lighter sentence. This will be more advantageous to the IRS in handling cases in the future, don't you think?"

"I share your view."

"Let's do it this way..."

David communicated with Nicola in a low voice for a few minutes before returning to his seat in the gallery.

Nicola then stood up and announced, "Now for the sentencing: Defendant Joey, found guilty of tax evasion, but considering his good attitude in admitting guilt, is sentenced to 20 years in prison, and all illegal income, totaling Thirty Nine Point Sixty Five Million US dollars, is to be confiscated."

"Defendant Pryce, found guilty of tax evasion, but considering his good attitude in admitting guilt, is sentenced to 20 years in prison, and all illegal income, totaling Fifty Six Point Eighty Eight Million US dollars, is to be confiscated."

"Defendant Darwin..."

As the verdicts were announced, the eight ringleaders slumped weakly into their chairs.

At this moment, their feelings were a mix of sorrow and relief.

First of all, a 20-year sentence was indeed not short for them, after all, how many 20-year periods does one have in a lifetime?

But on the other hand, compared to the tax evaders previously dealt with by David, their sentences could certainly be considered lenient.

After all, the tax evaders David had dealt with before were often sentenced to thousands of years, most crucially without any possibility of parole.

Now, their sentences were only 20 years, and most importantly, there was no sentence of life without the possibility of parole, meaning if they behaved well during their sentence, they might get out in just over a decade.

This was somewhat fortunate for them in their misfortune.

"All right, this trial is over. The court will adjourn for an hour, after which we will proceed with the trial of the other three members!"

With that, many people in the gallery began to orderly make their way to the exit, while some chose to stay in their seats, awaiting the next session.

Meanwhile, David found Keanu and instructed him, "You represent the Western Suburb Branch in the media interview outside, report the results of this trial. But remember, you must emphasize that the lighter sentences were granted due to their good attitude in admitting guilt, understood?"

He wanted to use the media to send a message to the criminals in the Western Suburbs that if they confessed, they would be treated leniently, whereas resistance would be fruitless.

"Understood."

Keanu promptly left the courtroom, took the elevator down to the first floor, then exited the main entrance to face a crowd of media, saying, "Ladies and gentlemen of the media, I am Deputy Director Keanu of the Western Suburb Branch. The court has announced its verdict, and I am here to report to you.

The criminals on trial, due to their good attitude in admitting guilt, have been given lenient consideration by the judge and have each been sentenced to 20 years in prison!"

Upon hearing this, the media reporters at the scene were stunned.

Although they had not been allowed into the courtroom, they had speculated that, following David's usual style, the eight leaders of the crime syndicate would probably be sentenced to thousands of years.

Unexpectedly, there weren't even sentences of hundreds of years, but instead just a 20-year prison term?

This significant contrast left people struggling to accept it for the moment.

And soon after, some netizens began to speculate online.

"Only 20 years for these eight crime syndicate leaders? This doesn't seem to fit Director David's previous style!"

"Didn't the Deputy Director of the Western Suburb Branch say that due to the good behavior exhibited by these eight criminals, they received a lighter sentence?"

"Good behavior? I don't think that's the reason. What do you think, could it be because of the Human Rights Organization?"

"I feel the same. Didn't the Human Rights Organization people come to protest and then got arrested? Then these eight leaders were given lighter sentences, and I think it could very well be the Western Suburb Branch's way of trying to ease tensions with the Human Rights Organization by giving them a way out!"

"..."

One must say, some netizens' guesses were not without a bit of logic.

The Human Rights Organization members did come to protest today.

And David's previous action of arresting people on the street seemed to many netizens to be rather impulsive.

For the IRS to solve this situation immaculately, they would have to charge these three individuals with tax evasion, as previously stated by David.