Why Rock Bottom Didn’t Happen in Prison—and How I Learned to Prepare After Sentencing
I remember standing in that courtroom when the judge said the number out loud. Even though I saw it coming, it hit […]
Building a Strong Mitigation Strategy: What Your Defense Should Stand For in Court
I’ve worked with clients at every stage of the federal criminal justice system—indictment, sentencing, prison, and post-release. One thing I can tell […]
Preparing Before Sentencing: Don’t Let the Judge Guess Who You Are
When I pled guilty to securities fraud, I wasn’t thinking about sentencing guidelines or mitigation strategies. I was thinking about how I […]
Should You Cooperate? Making the Toughest Decision in Your Case
Cooperation sounds straightforward. Help the government, get a lighter federal prison sentence. That’s the message many defendants hear early in their case. […]
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: […]
The Emotional Toll of Cooperation—What It Costs You Beyond the Courtroom
If you’ve read the earlier blogs in this series, you know that cooperation in a white-collar case can reduce your sentence—sometimes significantly. […]
When Cooperation Backfires—A Cautionary Tale from My Own Case
I’ve written a lot about the potential benefits of cooperation—how a well-prepared defendant can earn a 5K1.1 motion, reduce their sentence, and […]
The Pre-Sentence Report: The Document That Follows You
Why the Pre-Sentence Report Matters If you’re facing a federal sentencing, the pre-sentence report (PSR) is one of the most important documents […]
WHAT IF I’VE ALREADY HAD MY PROFFER AND DIDN’T PREPARE? HOW TO RECOVER BEFORE SENTENCING
Introduction You’ve already had your proffer session. You weren’t fully prepared. You might have undersold your role, gotten defensive, offered vague answers, […]
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A PROFFER OR REVERSE PROFFER SESSION (WITHOUT HURTING YOUR CASE)
Whether you’ve been invited to a proffer or a reverse proffer, you’re entering an important conversation with the federal government. These meetings […]
SHOULD YOU COOPERATE AFTER A REVERSE PROFFER?
Introduction You just sat through a reverse proffer. The government laid out its evidence—emails, financial records, maybe even a cooperating witness. It’s […]
TOP 10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT FEDERAL PROFFERS
If you are facing a federal investigation or criminal charges, you may be exploring ways to mitigate your exposure and secure the […]