The Best Decision I Made Before Sentencing
Before I was sentenced, I knew I had to take control. I appreciated the guidance from my lawyer, but after watching Michael […]
Why Most Character Letters Are Useless—And How Mine Helped Me Get 28 Months Instead of 60
Before sentencing, people kept telling me, “Get as many character letters as possible.” So, I almost made the mistake that most defendants […]
The Most Overlooked Sentencing Strategy—And Why It Helped Me Get 28 Months Instead of 60
Walking into my sentencing hearing, I knew I had one final shot to speak directly to the judge. No lawyers, no prosecutors—just […]
What an FBI Agent Taught Me About White-Collar Crime Investigations
The first two people I heard from after getting out of prison were Paul Bertrand and David Willingham. Paul was the FBI […]
Sentencing Preparation: Why Your Judge Only Knows One Version of You
When I first walked into my sentencing hearing, I already knew what the prosecutor’s version of my life looked like. It was […]
The Importance of a Reentry Plan (And Why You Need One ASAP)
If You Don’t Advocate for Yourself, No One Else Will If you’re heading into sentencing or preparing for prison now is the […]
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 […]
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 […]
Why U.S. Attorneys Are Pushing for Longer Sentences, Even for Defendants Who Plead Guilty
Many people presume that pleading guilty and repaying restitution will always lead to a lighter sentence in federal court. It seems logical—taking […]