When Probation Requests Backfire at Sentencing
Why Probation Requests Fail in High-Loss Cases A man told me his lawyer planned to ask for probation even though four victims […]
When Bad News Keeps Coming Before Sentencing
“I wasn’t expecting that,” he said.“What did you expect me to do—lie to you?” I asked. It was a Sunday. My phone […]
What Persuades a Federal Judge at Sentencing | White Collar Advice
Summary When facing sentencing, understanding how a federal judge thinks can make the difference between a long prison term and a second […]
When Sentencing Gets Delayed: What Are You Doing With the Time?
A year ago, an executive in the Midwest called me after being indicted for wire fraud. He’d been a college football player, […]
Why Most People Miss the Real Benefit of the First Step Act
You’ve waited. You’ve done the programs. You’ve heard about credits, reforms, and “new systems” that never seemed to reach you.Now, something’s actually […]
Most Defendants Miss What the New First Step Act Update Really Means
The Bureau of Prisons has quietly implemented one of the most meaningful updates since the First Step Act passed in 2018. It’s […]
Why Some Defense Lawyers Quietly Turn Against Their Clients
Twice in two hours, I said the same thing to two people in our community: “Can I speak directly?” Both said yes. […]
Silence Isn’t a Strategy: Why Some Defendants Get Longer Sentences
A judge began the sentencing hearing by saying, “There is very little evidence to support these claims.”That one sentence set the tone. […]
Most People Write Character Reference Letters the Wrong Way
The Call That Said Everything I received a phone call I rarely get—someone asking for help writing a character reference letter.He wasn’t […]