White Collar Advice Blog
What You Need to Know About Federal Prison Designation (And Why It Starts Before Sentencing)
If you’re facing a sentencing hearing in federal court, one of the most overlooked—but essential—steps is understanding how the Bureau of Prisons
When You Lie to the Feds, You Lose the Only Leverage That Matters
In 2005, I thought I had moved on. I was out of UBS. I had a new life. But the government hadn’t
How I Obstructed a Federal Investigation Without Even Knowing It
I Thought I Was Just a Witness When the meeting began, my lawyer and I were told I was just a witness.
The Day I Lied to My Lawyer—and Sealed My Prison Term
When the FBI Knocked, I Was Still in Denial April 28, 2005. Three knocks on my door. I open it, and it’s
How a Forged Signature Opened the Door to a Federal Investigation
On December 15, 2004, I walked into my branch manager’s office at UBS thinking it was a normal day. It wasn’t. He
Montaigne’s Guiding Question Was Simple: How to live?
His answer was never absolute. It came through fragments, habits, observation. He asked: How do we stay present? How do we face
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.