White Collar Advice Blog
Creating Your Own Case Study for Federal Sentencing
If you’re following White Collar Advice, chances are you or someone you love is facing a government investigation. You’re looking for the
Why You Need a Homecoming Strategy Before You Surrender to Prison (Even If You Think You Don’t)
You’ve been sentenced. The judge has spoken. You know where you’re going, for how long, and now you’re in that strange in-between
The Secret to Making Your Character Reference Letters Stand Out
Character reference letters played a key role in my sentencing. They gave Judge Wilson a chance to see who I really was

Webinar Replay: Judges and Prosecutors Have Their Version of You
In this week’s interactive workshop, Michael Santos talked about what really matters if you’re facing prison or already inside: taking control of
Preparing for Federal Sentencing: Understanding the Sentencing Guidelines and Why Your Work Matters
If you’re preparing for federal sentencing, I know how overwhelming it can feel. You might have heard from others that you don’t
Slow and Steady Wins in Sentencing: The Power of Consistency
Consistency helped when I was preparing for sentencing. Just think of the timeless fable of the tortoise and the hare. In that
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.