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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Bourke Jump

Chernoff made Vincent recall his writing in the letter that he failed to exercise judgment, relied upon advice of others, and should have been suspicious about the cash payments, which Vincent wrote were a "red flag" that made "bribing Azeri officials very easy to do."

Vincent's letter described himself as a junior employee under the thrall of his "Golden Boy" boss at Omega, who earned a multi-million dollar salary and wanted his subordinates to reflect his ideas rather than exercise their own judgment.

"I compartmentalized my role," Vincent admitted in the letter.

More than once, Vincent tried to distance himself from the letter's contents, detachedly referring to its "language."

In those moments, Chernoff got him to admit that he carefully scripted the letter with his lawyers and sent it to the U.S. Attorney's Office, which was evaluating his "candor" to see whether or not he would be prosecuted.

Vincent said that was true and said that he "came to understand the fallibility and greediness of many in the investment industry." He said appreciated how difficult it would be on his family if he were prosecuted for what was presented as his naivety.

He finally told the jury that he was not prosecuted after sending this letter.

After he stepped down, investor Catherine Fleck and Bourke's life partner Megan Harvey were the last two witnesses to take the stand, after Vincent. According to reports of their testimonies, both said that Bourke never mentioned knowing about the scheme, and federal prosecutors did not strongly challenge either of their statements.

After that, the defense rested. Final summations are on Monday, July 6.

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