BOP Memo June 2025: Why More People Are Going Directly to Home Confinement—and How the Release Plan Tips the Scale
The June 2025 Bureau of Prisons memo makes one thing clear: if you qualify under the First Step Act (FSA) and/or the […]
Dignity Intact: What Michael Santos Taught Me About the Long Game
Someone new to our community asked me,“I got six years. How long will I serve?”“I have no idea”, I told him.“I can make […]
First Step Act Home Confinement Update: How the Conditional Placement Date Accelerates Your Referral—If You’re Ready
The June 2025 BOP memo introduces a key concept that affects release timing: the Conditional Placement Date (CPD). This is not a […]
Bureau of Prisons New Home Confinement Directive: Why Your Release Plan Now Carries More Weight Than a Job Offer
The June 2025 BOP memo changes how home confinement referrals work. One of the clearest shifts is this: prior employment is no […]
June 17 BOP Memo: What It Means for Early Release Under the First Step Act
Michael Santos Introduces the BOP Directive White Collar Advice: “Michael, as you know, the Bureau of Prisons issued another directive on June […]
Why Federal Judges Ignore Apologies—and What Defendants Should Do Instead
When I wrote my judge a letter from federal prison, I didn’t write to say I was sorry. I wrote to show […]
The Truth About Cooperation: What Judges Really Consider at Sentencing
In 2007, I spent nearly a full year working with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This was after my indictment, but before […]
What the SEC Wants to Hear if You Want a Shorter Sentence
Six Months After My Plea, Everything Changed I had already pled guilty. One count of conspiracy to commit fraud. The government knew […]
What You Need to Know About Federal Prison Designation (And Why It Starts Before Sentencing)
If you’re facing a sentencing hearing in federal court, one of the most overlooked—but essential—steps is understanding how the Bureau of Prisons […]
When You Lie to the Feds, You Lose the Only Leverage That Matters
In 2005, I thought I had moved on. I was out of UBS. I had a new life. But the government hadn’t […]
How I Obstructed a Federal Investigation Without Even Knowing It
I Thought I Was Just a Witness When the meeting began, my lawyer and I were told I was just a witness. […]