What Judges See When You Knew It Was Wrong and Did It Anyway
I Took the Call—and Took the Money On June 16, 2002, I got a call from Keith, a hedge fund manager I […]
The Truth About Status in Prison: It Doesn’t Matter
When I self-surrendered to federal prison, I assumed people would care about my white collar crime. I assumed they’d care about where […]
How I Justified Fraud—and Ended Up in Prison
I walked into my senior partner’s office convinced I had leverage. I tossed my latest commission statements on his desk—$100,000 in revenue […]
From Prison Promises to Public Proof: What I Did on My First Halfway House Pass
On June 3, 2009, I stepped out of a halfway house in Los Angeles wearing a suit five sizes too big. It […]
How One Defendant Avoided Charges—And Why I Didn’t
On April 28, 2005, two FBI agents knocked on my door in Studio City. I wasn’t ready. I thought I could wing […]
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 […]
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 […]
Think You Deserve Early Release? Prove It With This
I stood outside a case manager’s office years ago watching a guy plead his case. He said the same thing I’ve heard […]
FBI to Defendants: Cooperation Is Not Enough
Cooperation Alone Won’t Keep You Out of Prison Three years ago, this defendant signed his plea agreement and agreed to cooperate. He […]
Why the Chrisley Pardon Matters—Even If It Upsets You
The day Todd and Julie Chrisley surrendered to federal prison, I told their daughter Lindsie it was a good day. That might […]
Does Preparing Early Make You Look Guilty? What Federal Agents Really Think
A kid from San Diego called me this morning. Early 20s. First-time offender. Scared, but not clueless. He’d been watching our videos. […]