The Missed Question That Can Cost You a Year
This post shares insights from our New York Times article about Hugo Mejia. You can read the full article [here]. If you’ve […]
What Judges Review Before Sentencing Starts
This post includes insights from our New York Times article about Hugo Mejia. You can read the full article [here]. It continues […]
Your Lawyer Won’t Prepare You for Prison—Here’s Why
This post shares excerpts and insights from our New York Times article about Hugo Mejia. You can read the full article [here]. […]
The Pre-Sentence Interview Mistake That Costs You More Time
This post shares excerpts and insights from our New York Times article about Hugo Mejia. You can read the full article [here]. […]
What Happens If You Deny Guilt After Pleading Guilty
This post shares insights and excerpts from our New York Times article about Hugo Mejia. You can read the full article [here]. […]
How One Inmate Got Time Served—Without Asking for It
I recorded that video on a trip to Oahu for my wife’s birthday. I had just a few minutes before dinner, but […]
What George Santos Got Wrong About Federal Sentencing
When I got sentenced to 18 months in a minimum-security federal prison camp, people said I didn’t deserve a second chance. I […]
The Greatest Consequence of a Federal Conviction—and Why It Matters for Sentencing
I was walking to Nobu in Newport Beach to have dinner with Michael Santos and Matthew Boyer when a journalist called to […]
Waiting for Trial Is Not Waiting Time: What the Minnesota COVID Fraud Case Teaches Defendants
The Feeding Our Future fraud case in Minnesota exposed something deeper than financial theft. As FBI Director Kash Patel put it, this […]
Why Sean Combs and Federal Defendants Need to Document Change for Shorter Sentences
Many are quick to say Sean Combs will get sentenced to time served. But that assumption misses a key point: no judge […]
Using Federal Prison Time Well: Document Progress and Prepare for Early Release
Last week, I got a call from an upset woman whose husband is preparing for federal prison. She was angry because, in […]
Why Early Cooperation and Documentation Matter in Federal Cases: Lessons from Healthcare Fraud Defendants
Waiting Too Long Closes Doors Last February, I spoke with a pharmacist facing serious opioid distribution charges—millions of pills allegedly moved through […]