The Hard Truth I Gave a Billionaire Before He Went to Prison
Sixteen years ago, I was sitting in a prison camp dining hall, wondering how I messed everything up. These days, I talk […]
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 […]
The Sentence You Could Have Avoided if You Moved Sooner
Hunter S. Thompson once wrote, “A man who procrastinates in his choosing will inevitably have his choice made for him by circumstance.” […]
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 Prison Holidays Break Families—And What You Can Do About It
There are moments in federal prison that stay with you long after your sentence ends. For me, it’s a Mother’s Day visit […]
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 […]
17 Years Later: The Sentencing Trap I Still See Every Week
Seventeen years ago, I surrendered to federal prison.I still remember the weight of it—the uncertainty, the shame, the questions I couldn’t answer. […]
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 the PSR Affects Your Life After Prison
The PSR Doesn’t End With Your Sentence After release, probation officers will use the PSR to determine: Preparing for a Successful Reentry […]
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: […]