Why Judges Ignore Your Sentencing Narrative If Your Attitude Is Wrong
From the Desk of Justin Paperny I’ve read personal narratives that could move anyone to tears. I’ve seen ten, fifteen character letters […]
How to Respond When You’re Facing Wire Fraud and Mail Fraud Charges
When I was under investigation for wire fraud, I did exactly what most people do at first—I panicked, isolated myself, and waited […]
How a Strong Sentencing Plan Can Reduce Your Federal Prison Time
When people come to me for help after getting charged in a federal case, one of the first things I hear is:“I […]
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, […]