Julian was sentenced to nine years in state prison.

His cousin, who had lent the scheme its one thin veneer of legality with a notary stamp, had his professional license permanently revoked and faced his own sentence.

The notary cousin deserves his own moment of consideration, because his role illuminates something important about how crimes like this are possible at all.

Julian was the muscle and my sister was the inside knowledge, but neither of them, alone, could have turned a stolen signature into a legally recorded deed.

That required the cousin, the licensed professional, the person whose stamp is supposed to mean this is verified, this is real, you may trust this.