One Week In: When I Realized Prison Was Not Temporary
The Call That Changed NothingSeven days after I surrendered, I picked up the phone and called my sister-in-law, Sunny. I told her […]
Think You Deserve Early Release? Prove It With This
I stood outside a case manager’s office years ago watching a guy plead his case. He said the same thing I’ve heard […]
Why the Chrisley Pardon Matters—Even If It Upsets You
The day Todd and Julie Chrisley surrendered to federal prison, I told their daughter Lindsie it was a good day. That might […]
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 […]
The Sentence You Could Have Avoided if You Moved Sooner
Hunter S. Thompson once wrote, “A man who procrastinates in his choosing will inevitably have his choice made for him by circumstance.” […]
How Judges Use the PSR to Decide Your Fate
The PSR is the Most Important Document in Sentencing The judge makes a final decision, but the PSR provides the foundation. Judges […]
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 David Moulder Avoided Federal Prison—Lessons from His Sentencing
David quickly realized that what most defendants do—what his lawyers were advising him to do—wasn’t enough. Most prisoners:❌ Trust their lawyer to […]
5K1.1 and Rule 35(b)—What Cooperation Actually Buys You at Sentencing
If you’ve been told that cooperation will “definitely” reduce your prison sentence, I encourage you to read this carefully to learn more […]
Proffers, Reverse Proffers, and Cooperation: What You Need to Know
If you’re facing a federal investigation, your lawyer may have already used the term “proffer” or “reverse proffer.” You may have nodded […]
Cooperation in a White Collar Crime—Why It’s Not Always a Straight Line to Leniency
When someone is under investigation for a white-collar crime, one of the first questions they often ask is : Should I cooperate? […]