Chris Walker

But the bigger surprise was that he wasn't alone. A young lawyer named Jay Gill flanked Jack on one side, and on the other stood his sons, Robert and Michael. Lapham and Barnett saw a golden opportunity. They were still collecting the evidence they needed to file charges against Michael, but now they could question him directly. Would he lie in front of federal agents? In front of his father?

But the bigger surprise was that he wasn't alone. A young lawyer named Jay Gill flanked Jack on one side, and on the other stood his sons, Robert and Michael. Lapham and Barnett saw a golden opportunity. They were still collecting the evidence they needed to file charges against Michael, but now they could question him directly. Would he lie in front of federal agents? In front of his father?

As Lapham recalls, Jack seemed oblivious to the precariousness of the situation as he warmly welcomed the men into his home.

As Lapham recalls, Jack seemed oblivious to the precariousness of the situation as he warmly welcomed the men into his home.

Knowing that investigators were poking around his company, Jack asked, is there anything we can help you with? Terrible what the Bavaros did, isn't it? Lapham and Barnett looked at each other. Interesting.

Knowing that investigators were poking around his company, Jack asked, is there anything we can help you with? Terrible what the Bavaros did, isn't it? Lapham and Barnett looked at each other. Interesting.

So they focused their attention on Michael, who was of much more interest to them anyway. They started off easy, asking him questions about his role in the family business. But then they worked their way up to the fraudulent grapes that Delicato had received from V&K Enterprises and F. Rihanna Farms. And right in front of everyone, Michael doubled down on his claim that the vineyards were real.

So they focused their attention on Michael, who was of much more interest to them anyway. They started off easy, asking him questions about his role in the family business. But then they worked their way up to the fraudulent grapes that Delicato had received from V&K Enterprises and F. Rihanna Farms. And right in front of everyone, Michael doubled down on his claim that the vineyards were real.

His proof? He had seen them with his own eyes.

His proof? He had seen them with his own eyes.

As soon as the words left Michael's mouth, Jack felt the room's energy shift. He could tell by the smirks on his visitors' faces that something big had just happened, something that didn't bode well for the family grape brokerage or the inheritances he hoped to leave his children, who were all registered agents of the company.

As soon as the words left Michael's mouth, Jack felt the room's energy shift. He could tell by the smirks on his visitors' faces that something big had just happened, something that didn't bode well for the family grape brokerage or the inheritances he hoped to leave his children, who were all registered agents of the company.

One misstep, one wrong word, could cause everything he'd worked so hard to build to come crashing down. So Jack had to tread carefully. He didn't want to risk saying anything that might implicate Michael or the business further, so he kept his mouth shut until the investigators left.

One misstep, one wrong word, could cause everything he'd worked so hard to build to come crashing down. So Jack had to tread carefully. He didn't want to risk saying anything that might implicate Michael or the business further, so he kept his mouth shut until the investigators left.

Then, just two weeks after the meeting, Jack received a most unwelcome reminder that his son wasn't being straight with him. A subpoena. It compelled Jack to send the government every financial document he had related to the 1987 and 1988 grape harvests. And with the court document in his hands, the terrible truth washed over him.

Then, just two weeks after the meeting, Jack received a most unwelcome reminder that his son wasn't being straight with him. A subpoena. It compelled Jack to send the government every financial document he had related to the 1987 and 1988 grape harvests. And with the court document in his hands, the terrible truth washed over him.

He, his son, and his company were now the official subjects of a federal grand jury investigation. I talked to some of the Lichardi siblings about that moment. Here's Robert. Do you remember your dad's reaction when he found out about the investigation into Michael? Oh, yeah.

He, his son, and his company were now the official subjects of a federal grand jury investigation. I talked to some of the Lichardi siblings about that moment. Here's Robert. Do you remember your dad's reaction when he found out about the investigation into Michael? Oh, yeah.

Then, in early 1990, Jack received another subpoena, this time to testify in person before the grand jury. Jack made no bones about it. He would attend the closed-door session. Joanna remembers driving her father to the federal courthouse in Sacramento on February 9, 1990. He looked even more beaten down as he emerged from the courthouse in his wheelchair.

Then, in early 1990, Jack received another subpoena, this time to testify in person before the grand jury. Jack made no bones about it. He would attend the closed-door session. Joanna remembers driving her father to the federal courthouse in Sacramento on February 9, 1990. He looked even more beaten down as he emerged from the courthouse in his wheelchair.