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 Most People Waste Their Sentence—and What Montaigne Would Tell Them to Do Instead
I watched it happen over and over at Taft Federal Prison Camp: people arrived anxious, made a few calls home, got their […]
7 Components of a Credible Release Plan
This one-page guide helps you prepare a persuasive release plan aligned with the May 28, 2025 BOP directive. Your file—not the policy—determines […]
The BOP Memo on Home Confinement: Why the File—Not the Policy—Determines Who Goes Home
This webinar reflects the insight we’ve shared in dozens of posts, webinars, and training calls—including five recent blogs on the subject. All […]
Why the BOP Should Close Camps and Expand Home Confinement
I’ve lost count of how many people have told me they earned their time credits, stayed out of trouble, completed their programs, […]
Why the BOP Memo Reflects a Shift Michael Santos Saw Coming 10 Years Ago
The new directive, signed by Director William Marshall III, instructs case managers to prioritize home confinement for individuals who qualify under the […]
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 […]