So as I mentioned last week Patricia Yarrow pleaded guilty for two counts federal felonies of identity theft, two counts of credit card misdemeanor, and one count 2nd degree theft. She plead GUILTY!!
It was the sweetest thing to my ears to hear it utter from her throat. This has been a year in the making. I pressed charges back in August 2007, she was arrested and arraigned in September. If she had been smart she would have taken the first plea, the one that was smaller. But thinking if she just ignored it, it'd go away she didn't go to her meetings with her attorney, she didn't give the court the correct address and she didn't show up for court dates.
This meant that I had to go to testify in front of the grand jury. I had to relive the entire events in front of a roomful of strangers. I cried on the stand. It made me shake. But I made sure my voice was heard. I never was going to let her get away with this. All I could think was how she would say she didn't believe in karma. That was reason enough to push through. It didn't take the grand jury more than 15 minutes to come back with 9 charges! When I went in there were only 3 against her.
Then there was the re-arraignment that she didn't show up for. They did a continuance, she didn't show up again. They put out a bench warrant for her. Took a month or two but they got her. She was arrested once more. She was released once more. But she got it through her head she better show up.
So one year to the date, we went back to court, Heidi and I and I watched her lawyer get through it again. He gave her the outline of the plea bargain and we had to come back for the disposition as there was a clerical error on the paperwork she needed to sign to claim Guilty. So I came back, after my birthday and heard her say it. Guilty.

To know that I wasn't going crazy all those times I didn't know where my statements were or I was missing money. To know I wasn't exceeding my own limits and overdrawing my accounts. But it hurts to know all the lies she said and did. To have cried on her shoulder when my cards were declined. When I thought I was going crazy. To have told her my secrets and believed her when she said she was my best friend. I thought she was a sister but a sister doesn't steal your identity. They do not steal your confirmation cross that your mother gave you. They don't leave you with no answer for their behavior.

I am so blessed to have learned what real friends are from this experience. To have a love in my life that is based on open honesty. Something she will never have. I am proud of my job, doing something where I passed background checks because I am an upstanding citizen. I mean with identity theft and credit card fraud on your records you can't even get a job as a cashier at Wal-mart! I am glad to know my vote counts. I am not a convicted felon.

So the tears, the anger, the nightmare, the move, the stress, was all worth it. Now I just have to wait for the sentencing. That will take place in December. Also, if you know of any good civil lawyers in DC, give me their number. I'm ready to get my money back :)