What I Promised Myself the Day I Left Federal Prison
The Last Day in Federal Prison Doesn’t Feel Like Freedom Sixteen years ago today—May 19, 2009—I woke up in federal prison for […]
Why Refusing a Job Before Sentencing Can Hurt You in Court
When I was first indicted, I didn’t think I’d done anything that wrong. Sure, mistakes were made—but prison? No way. I didn’t […]
How to Get Out of Federal Prison Early
An executive in the Midwest indicted for mail fraud—texted me: “How do you get out of federal prison early?” I told him […]
How to Avoid George Santos’ Sentencing Mistake
Seventeen years after I was sentenced to federal prison, I still remember the pressure of that courtroom. You rehearse your statement a […]
How Matthew Boyer Faced Federal Charges Without Losing His Life
I’m writing this from Dana Point, California, where I just celebrated the 50th birthday of my friend and former client, Matthew Boyer. […]
How Judges Use the PSR to Decide Your Fate
The PSR is the Most Important Document in Sentencing The judge makes a final decision, but the PSR provides the foundation. Judges […]
How the PSR Affects Your Entire Sentence
The PSR Determines More Than Just Your Sentence Length Many people assume the PSR is only for sentencing. In reality, it affects: […]
The PSR Mistakes That Can Cost You Years
Why the Pre-Sentence Report is More Than a Formality A single document can determine how long you serve, where you serve, and […]
The Pre-Sentence Report: The Document That Follows You
Why the Pre-Sentence Report Matters If you’re facing a federal sentencing, the pre-sentence report (PSR) is one of the most important documents […]
WHAT IF I’VE ALREADY HAD MY PROFFER AND DIDN’T PREPARE? HOW TO RECOVER BEFORE SENTENCING
Introduction You’ve already had your proffer session. You weren’t fully prepared. You might have undersold your role, gotten defensive, offered vague answers, […]
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A PROFFER OR REVERSE PROFFER SESSION (WITHOUT HURTING YOUR CASE)
Whether you’ve been invited to a proffer or a reverse proffer, you’re entering an important conversation with the federal government. These meetings […]
SHOULD YOU COOPERATE AFTER A REVERSE PROFFER?
Introduction You just sat through a reverse proffer. The government laid out its evidence—emails, financial records, maybe even a cooperating witness. It’s […]