Elizabeth Holmes has to report to prison later this month as was originally planned, a judge has ruled.

Holmes had asked the judge to allow her to remain free on bail to await trial, but she now must return to prison.

Experts say that Holmes’ bid to stay free during the appeals process, which could last up to two years, was always a long shot.

Elizabeth Holmes argued that she has two young children, is working on new inventions, and has raised “substantial questions” that could change the appeal in her favor. But prosecutors told the judge that Holmes was likely to try to flee – and presented a one-way plane ticket to Mexico purchased while Holmes was on trial.

However, the plane ticket didn’t factor into this week’s ruling by US District Judge Edward Davila. According to her counsel, Holmes purchased the plane ticket for a wedding with an uncertain return date, anticipating exoneration in the court system.

Davila explained, “Booking international travel plans for a criminal defendant in anticipation of a complete defense victory is a bold move, and the failure to promptly cancel those plans after a guilty verdict is a perilously careless oversight.” He added that the incident invited “greater scrutiny” of Holmes but “while ill-advised, was not an attempt to flee the country.”