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Hire a lawyer who knows federal court, then start building your own record right away. Write down who you were before the case, document what you do from here, and learn what judges and probation officers say they want. I did none of that, and I went to federal prison.
Where my case started
My sophomore year at USC, my mom called my cousin at Goldman Sachs and asked if I could intern for him. He said fine. Have him here at four in the morning.
I walked into 303 South Grand Avenue at 4:30. I didn't know how to tie a tie. Mine ended somewhere around my sternum.
"So you're the baseball player," he said.
I told him I was thinking about graduate school in psychology. He told me that if I ever wanted to be in the brokerage business, I needed an MBA. Without one, I'd be a used car salesman.
Then I watched him trade. A hundred million. Two hundred. Three. I was 20, and it felt like playing in front of 20,000 people. I walked out of that office, done with graduate school and done with his advice. I'd ignore people who knew more than I did for the next ten years.
Why I'm telling this in 30 parts
Over 30 posts, I'll tell you how I went from that office to Taft Federal Prison Camp on April 28, 2008, one piece at a time, in order. Along the way, you'll hear from federal judges and probation officers about what they wanted from people like me. I did almost none of it.
Each post ends with one thing to add to a free profile on Prison Professors, the nonprofit Michael Santos built after 26 years in federal prison. By the end of the series, you'll have a record that a probation officer, a judge, or a case manager can read.
What to do this week
Open your profile at prisonprofessors.org. Write one paragraph about who you were at 20, before any of this. Leave the case out of it for now.
If your sentencing is weeks away, don't wait for Part 30. Book a free call with our team today.
Questions people ask
Is it too early to prepare for sentencing before I've been charged?
No. The government builds its case for months or years before charges are filed. Anything you start now is part of your record by the time a probation officer or judge reads about you.
Can't my lawyer handle sentencing preparation?
Your lawyer handles the law, the guidelines, and the arguments. A judge also wants to hear from you: what you learned, who you hurt, and what you've done since. Nobody can write that for you.
What is a Prison Professors profile?
A free page on prisonprofessors.org where you document your progress: work, service, classes, writing. Each entry is dated, so a judge, probation officer, or case manager can see when you did it.
Related: Every Tuesday at 11 a.m. Pacific, I host a free webinar at whitecollaradvice.com for people facing what you're facing. No pitch. Bring your questions.
Read next: Part 2: Does Your Work History Matter at Federal Sentencing?
Written by
Justin Paperny
Founder White Collar Advice
