The Diamond Syndicate

Dante held his breath, trying not to shake from nervousness.

“What’s your name, man?” the cop asked.

“Brian James,” Dante responded, saying the first thing that came to his mind.

The police officers decided to take all three men down to the station and book them on the gun charge, and drug possession with intent to distribute.

Down at the police station Dante sat tapping his foot on the floor nervously, while sweat seemed to pour from his forehead. He was terrified that they would find out who he was. He was handcuffed to the table and was waiting for someone to come into the room.

In the other two rooms the police were interrogating the boys about the drugs. They offered to exchange a lesser sentence for the gun and drugs charges with any information they could get from them. This was a tactic that most police officers used when they wanted to come up on a big score of some sort.

After about two hours of manhandling and interrogating the two boys, they finally broke down and snitched. They informed the cops that the third guy they’d picked up was Dante Reed.

TWENTY

The State versus Reed and Reed

2003

“The said defendants Diamond and Dante Reed are being charged with two counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, welfare fraud, insurance fraud, extortion, bribery . . .” The court clerk announced the long list of charges filed against mother and son.

The Newark, New Jersey courtroom was filled to capacity. This was the first day of the big trial. The media was stirred to a frenzy when news of the Reeds’ arrests went public.

After the clerk was finished, Judge Lewis D. Fritz asked, “Are counselors ready for opening statements?”

The attorneys for the state and the defense lawyers both nodded in agreement, shuffling papers.

“Proceed,” Judge Fritz said to the prosecutor’s table.

At the prosecutor’s table sat three attorneys for the state—two men and one woman—all handling different aspects of the case. The courtroom was so quiet, the atmosphere was eerie.

The female lead prosecutor stood, preparing to give her opening statement. Her stiletto pumps echoed as they hit the hardwood floor. Attorney Christine Swartz walked over to the jury box, her hands clasped behind her back. She was deep in thought, as she organized her opening remarks.

Prosecutor Swartz’s sandy-colored hair with streaked blond highlights lay perfectly about her shoulders, not a strand out of place. She’d carefully placed the loose hairs behind her ear, revealing her smooth, olive-colored cheek. She’d inherited her ocean-blue eyes and pointy nose from her white father.

Once in front of the jury box, she placed her hands on the railing. A warm smile spread across her small, pouty, rose-colored lips. She had a small black mole on the right corner of her mouth just above her full lips, just like her Spanish mother.

Watching her intently were twelve jurors that she, her team and the defense had selected: five Caucasian women and seven men, five black and two white, all ranging from thirty years old to fifty. They stared at Prosecutor Swartz, not moving a muscle as they waited patiently to hear her opening statement.

“Good morning,” she began. “Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I am prepared today to prove to you that Diamond and Dante Reed are guilty of the charges that were read to you only moments ago. It is my duty, not only as an attorney for the state, but as a tax-paying citizen of the United States, to make sure the two defendants are c

onvicted of the heinous acts they committed against innocent people. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, these two have committed crimes against you as well. Yes, you too are tax-paying citizens. We all work hard to earn a living, and criminals like these two have robbed us of our hard-earned money.” She pointed toward the defense table. “Our tax dollars are providing funds for citizens on welfare, Medicaid, and Medicare. But”—She walked away from the jury box and stood in front of the defense table—“Diamond and Dante Reed have illegally taken money from you, creating false insurance claims, several welfare claims under aliases, and even resorted to murder to hide their fraud. They have used the system and they have used you.

“On top of all that, they have committed first degree, pre-meditated, coldblooded murder! But, ladies and gentlemen, it stops here today. I will present you with facts and hard evidence during this trial, and I promise you that you will hear evidence of a brutal execution-style murder and countless thoughtless acts committed by the defendants with no regard for the law. The evidence will show you that Diamond and Dante Reed are guilty of everything they are being charged with today. I only ask one thing of you.” Prosecutor Swartz stood still and made eye contact with the jurors. “Help me put an end to these types of crimes by setting an example to others who may think they can end a human life and get away with our hard-earned money. Don’t sit back and allow these two defendants to insult you by letting them off. Let’s show the other criminals of this country that we will not stand for their behavior, and let’s start with Diamond and Dante Reed!”

While the prosecutor gave her opening argument, the attorneys for the defendants sat quietly listening. They had instructed their clients to do the same. The defense attorneys were Kyle and Kendall Boris, two handsome black brothers who had been practicing as defense attorneys for more than ten years, although they were only in their early thirties. Their expensive, tailor-made suits hung perfectly on their muscular six-feet-plus bodies. They sported thin mustaches and low, faded haircuts. Their almond-colored eyes and long eyelashes sat underneath bushy eyebrows. These men were more than just handsome, and in their presence every woman did a double take.

The Reeds both sat at the table with the Boris brothers. Diamond was fifty-three years old, but even after spending two months in a women’s prison, she still didn’t look a day over thirty. Diamond was that chick. At five feet seven with pecan-colored skin and a thick hourglass shape, she resembled the legendary Josephine Baker.

Her son and co-defendant Dante Reed sat next to her. He had the same pecan-colored skin as his mother. At twenty-one, he was a handsome young man, taking after his mother in looks.

Diamond sat in the courtroom exuding confidence while watching Prosecutor Swartz give her opening argument. She refused to listen to the allegations the prosecutor spewed, trying to incriminate her and her son.

Unlike his mother, Dante wasn’t feeling confident at all. He kept thinking he would have never been in this position had it not been for his mother. He never wanted the type of lifestyle his mother bestowed upon him because of her greed. After spending two months in jail, he couldn’t imagine spending twenty-five to life in prison, which was what he was facing if convicted. He hoped his attorneys, who were raping them of their huge stash of cash with their high fees, could do their job well and get him and his mother off.

“Counselors,” Judge Fritz said to the defense attorneys, prompting them to begin their opening argument.

Kendall, the elder of the two brothers, stood and buttoned his suit jacket. He stepped around the table and stood directly in front of the jury. “Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I am Attorney Kendall Boris,” he began. “Today my brother and I are representing the defendants. You have heard the opening statement from the prosecutor, and I’d like to add that it was a great performance. However, my team and I are prepared to show you that everything the prosecutor stated is false.