White Collar Advice Blog
What the SEC Wants to Hear if You Want a Shorter Sentence
Six Months After My Plea, Everything Changed I had already pled guilty. One count of conspiracy to commit fraud. The government knew
What I Learned Re-Reading The Stranger—16 Years After Federal Prison
I first read The Stranger by Albert Camus in federal prison after my late friend Andrew Altchuk introduced me to it. I tried to
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
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.
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
Oakdale Federal Prison Camp: Write More Than You Say
When Michael Santos handed me a blank notebook in federal prison, I thought it was a symbolic gesture. It wasn’t. It was
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.