White Collar Advice Blog

Why You Might Still Be in Federal Prison—Even After the BOP Memo
After the First Step Act passed in 2018, most people assumed they’d serve less time. The bill said time credits could be
One Week In: When I Realized Prison Was Not Temporary
The Call That Changed NothingSeven days after I surrendered, I picked up the phone and called my sister-in-law, Sunny. I told her

You’re Not Ready for Sentencing Or Prison If You Haven’t Answered These 7 Questions
When I was in prison, I wanted to be a better reader. But early on, when I told Michael Santos I’d read

Study Yourself First: Why Montaigne Belongs in Federal Prison Camp
In the first blog in this series, I shared why Montaigne’s advice—“Don’t worry about death”—helped me understand something most people don’t realize

Why Most People Will Miss the Home Confinement Window—Even if They Qualify
Tracii Hutsona didn’t assume credits would be enough. When she was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison—more than her guideline range—she

Don’t Worry About Prison: Montaigne’s Guide to Mastering Time in a Federal Camp
One of my favorite books is How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne by Sarah Bakewell. It doesn’t read like one
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.