White Collar Advice Blog
What Happens During a White Collar Crime Investigation — and Why Early Preparation Changes Everything | Chapter 1
Most people pulled into a federal investigation have never dealt with the criminal justice system before. They are educated, accomplished, and completely
The 33 Strategies of War Meets Federal Sentencing: Lessons That Can Save You Years in Prison
Summary This article examines how human behavior under pressure—described in Robert Greene’s The 33 Strategies of War—mirrors the four biggest mistakes defendants
Federal Defendant Lessons: Part I Summary of Justin Paperny’s After the Fall
Summary: This Part I Summary of After the Fall covers the first five chapters and the essential federal sentencing lessons every defendant
When Probation Requests Backfire at Sentencing
Why Probation Requests Fail in High-Loss Cases A man told me his lawyer planned to ask for probation even though four victims
When Bad News Keeps Coming Before Sentencing
“I wasn’t expecting that,” he said.“What did you expect me to do—lie to you?” I asked. It was a Sunday. My phone
What Persuades a Federal Judge at Sentencing | White Collar Advice
Summary When facing sentencing, understanding how a federal judge thinks can make the difference between a long prison term and a second
The White Collar Advice blog helps people under investigation or facing federal sentencing understand the system, avoid mistakes that lead to longer sentences or tougher prison placements, and prepare for prison and reentry.
People under federal investigation, facing sentencing, or preparing for prison who want to build a documented record that shows they are different from the government’s one-sided version of events. Family members who want to understand the process and help a loved one prepare should read it too.
Yes. The blog is based on the combined experience of our team at White Collar Advice, including my time in the system, Michael Santos’s 26 years in federal prison, and the work we’ve done with thousands of people going through investigations, sentencing, and reentry. Everything comes from what we’ve seen and documented over many years.
These blogs teach you how to create assets that do not currently exist to influence cynical stakeholders, like a Federal Judge or Probation Officer.