The Hard Truth I Gave a Billionaire Before He Went to Prison
Sixteen years ago, I was sitting in a prison camp dining hall, wondering how I messed everything up. These days, I talk […]
What I Promised Myself the Day I Left Federal Prison
The Last Day in Federal Prison Doesn’t Feel Like Freedom Sixteen years ago today—May 19, 2009—I woke up in federal prison for […]
Why Refusing a Job Before Sentencing Can Hurt You in Court
When I was first indicted, I didn’t think I’d done anything that wrong. Sure, mistakes were made—but prison? No way. I didn’t […]
How One Letter Triggered Government Collection After Prison
I still laugh when I think of Back to School with Rodney Dangerfield. My dad, my brother, and I used to quote […]
Preparing for Sentencing Too Late? Read This First
The Cost of Playing Catch-Up Before Sentencing A father facing sentencing tomorrow called me with his kids. The kids were worried. Their […]
How One Honest Statement Helped a Doctor Get Less Time
I met a physician in Tampa who had a sentencing interview coming up that Monday. He sat across from me with his […]
Why Gambling in Prison Is Not Just a Game—It’s a Threat
Let’s talk about something too many people overlook when they think about prison: boredom. Not violence. Not gangs. Boredom. That’s the real […]
How Matthew Boyer Faced Federal Charges Without Losing His Life
I’m writing this from Dana Point, California, where I just celebrated the 50th birthday of my friend and former client, Matthew Boyer. […]
When the State Walked Away from Reentry, We Didn’t
A few days ago, my partner Michael Santos got a message from the California Department of Corrections. It wasn’t a surprise—but it […]
Why I Turned Down $5K for Gossip About Elizabeth Holmes in Prison
Let me tell you about a message I got recently. Someone who served time with Elizabeth Holmes at the federal prison camp […]
Why Denial Keeps You Stuck—and What Owning It Set Me Free
A few weeks ago, I played golf with an old friend and former client of mine—a guy I’ve known for years. He […]
How to Respond to Kickback Schemes Charges—and Avoid the Mistakes That Make Things Worse
When I was indicted for securities fraud, I remember sitting in my lawyer’s office, nodding along while hearing terms I barely understood—“conspiracy,” […]