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Showing 145–156 of 770 articles
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 […]
Justin Paperny
Nov 17, 2025
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 […]
Justin Paperny
Nov 14, 2025
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 […]
Justin Paperny
Nov 11, 2025
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 […]
Justin Paperny
Nov 10, 2025
When Sentencing Gets Delayed: What Are You Doing With the Time?
A year ago, an executive in the Midwest called me after being indicted for wire fraud. He’d been a college football player, […]
Justin Paperny
Nov 10, 2025
Easier to Say Than Live: The Real Cost of Freedom After Federal Prison | Chapter 5
If you’re new here, After the Fall is the book I’ve been writing for sixteen years—one story at a time.Each chapter connects […]
Justin Paperny
Nov 10, 2025
Why Most People Miss the Real Benefit of the First Step Act
You’ve waited. You’ve done the programs. You’ve heard about credits, reforms, and “new systems” that never seemed to reach you.Now, something’s actually […]
Justin Paperny
Nov 7, 2025
Most Defendants Miss What the New First Step Act Update Really Means
The Bureau of Prisons has quietly implemented one of the most meaningful updates since the First Step Act passed in 2018. It’s […]
Justin Paperny
Nov 6, 2025
Why Some Defense Lawyers Quietly Turn Against Their Clients
Twice in two hours, I said the same thing to two people in our community: “Can I speak directly?” Both said yes. […]
Justin Paperny
Nov 3, 2025
Dodger’s Win!
Usually, I write in the evenings. But this week was Dodger baseball — priorities. For that reason, Chapter 5 of After the […]
Justin Paperny
Nov 2, 2025
Silence Isn’t a Strategy: Why Some Defendants Get Longer Sentences
A judge began the sentencing hearing by saying, “There is very little evidence to support these claims.”That one sentence set the tone. […]
Justin Paperny
Oct 31, 2025
Most People Write Character Reference Letters the Wrong Way
The Call That Said Everything I received a phone call I rarely get—someone asking for help writing a character reference letter.He wasn’t […]
Justin Paperny
Oct 29, 2025
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