Our Team

Forrest Behne

Writer/ Business Development

Forrest Behne plays a critical role at White Collar Advice, overseeing our team and client advocacy work. He makes sure that every personal narrative, release plan, and advocacy document meets the highest standards—because when it comes to mitigation, the details matter.

Forrest’s background is unique. After receiving a pardon, he committed himself to helping justice-impacted people document their progress and tell their stories effectively. He’s currently pursuing a Juris Doctor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, building on his degrees in public health (MPH, UNC-Chapel Hill) and biology (BS, Washington & Lee University).

Beyond writing, Forrest is heavily involved in ghostwriting manuscripts for members of our community, with multiple books in production. He also plays a key role in client satisfaction and business development, working closely with Michael Santos and me.

Forrest is all about clarity and strategy. He helps people put together advocacy materials that tell the full story, not just the government’s version.

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Tayana Franco

Sales/Consulting

Tayana Franco hasn’t been through the criminal justice system—but that’s exactly what makes her role so valuable. She reached out through a friend, wanting to help people caught up in government investigations. She believes in second chances and wanted to use her background in sales and personal development to support people going through crisis.

Tayana’s strength is simple—she knows how to connect with people. She brings a strong work ethic, a great attitude, and the perfect mix of sympathy and practicality to support individuals facing government investigations. She understands the stress, uncertainty, and emotional toll that comes with a criminal case, and she helps people stay focused and take the right steps.

Her dedication to helping others—despite never personally experiencing the system—makes her a powerful advocate for those seeking guidance and support.

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Alec Burlakoff

Former Pharma Executive | Mitigation Strategist | Sales

Alec Burlakoff works with our team at White Collar Advice to help clients understand what’s coming in a government investigation—and how to respond with purpose, not panic.

Before joining our team, Alec was a senior executive at Insys Therapeutics, where he led a $3 billion sales organization. In 2018, Insys was the fastest-growing company on the NASDAQ. That same year, a federal investigation began. Alec became a target and faced the possibility of decades in prison. Early on, he made mistakes—waiting too long, saying too much, and failing to grasp how the system works.

Then he found White Collar Advice. He began by watching videos and learning how others had prepared. He later worked directly with our team to build a full mitigation strategy—personal narrative, release plan, letters of support, and documentation that reflected who he was beyond the charges.

Though the government asked for 60 months in prison, Judge Allison Burroughs sentenced Alec to 26 months. He served 10 months in federal prison before being released.

That outcome didn’t happen by chance. It came from effort, consistency, and a willingness to face the reality of what he was up against.

Today, Alec leads sales and client support for White Collar Advice. He speaks with individuals at the beginning of their case—often when they’re still trying to make sense of what’s happening. He helps them evaluate where they stand and whether they’re ready to do the work that can lead to a better outcome.

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Omar Saleh

Physician Advocate | Compliance Educator | Sentencing Consultant

Omar Saleh, MD works with our team at White Collar Advice to support physicians and healthcare professionals navigating government investigations. He knows how a medical career can unravel—not because of malice, but because of a missed detail, a lack of training, or the wrong assumption at the wrong time.

Omar was convicted of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. His sentencing guidelines were 27 to 35 months. Before sentencing, he joined our community, attended our webinars, and worked closely with our team to prepare. He wrote a personal narrative that explained the context of his case, documented his efforts to make amends, and built a plan that showed how he intended to use the experience to improve—not just recover. The judge sentenced him to 16 months. He served 6 months in federal prison.

If you’re a physician under investigation, Omar’s path offers a clear example of what deliberate preparation can look like. He understands the language prosecutors use, the priorities judges and probation officers have, and how to present your work, character, and progress in a way that resonates with cynical stakeholders.

He’s now writing a book that outlines his journey and the critical lessons doctors rarely hear—until it’s too late. He’s launching a podcast and YouTube series titled The Sh*t They Don’t Teach You In Med School, tackling real gaps in medical education: financial literacy, contract terms, compliance risk, and long-term career security.

Omar is also completing a Physician Executive MBA. At White Collar Advice, he works closely with me to guide healthcare clients through sentencing, licensing issues, and professional rebuilding. His role isn’t motivational—it’s practical. He helps doctors understand what they’re facing, what steps matter, and how to build a record that others will take seriously.

If you’re in medicine and under scrutiny, you don’t need more fear—you need perspective from someone who’s been through it, and who knows how to help you respond with clarity, discipline, and credibility.

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Brad Rouse

Writer

I met Brad Rouse in 2018 through a mutual connection, nine years after Brad was released from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Right away, I knew he understood the importance of preparing a record that shows why someone deserves leniency. He didn’t just believe in the concept—he lived it.

Brad has been with White Collar Advice longer than anyone else on our team, and his impact is everywhere. He’s helped hundreds of people write personal narratives, structure character reference letters, and prepare release plans that actually matter to judges and other decision-makers. His work has played a direct role in outstanding outcomes, including for Stanley Benton and Hugo Mejia, who were featured alongside Brad in our New York Times article.

Before all of this, Brad built a career in theater. He’s a Harvard graduate who worked with Broadway legend Hal Prince on productions by Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Carol Burnett. He’s directed at places like the Public Theater, City Center, and Juilliard.

Why does that matter? Because Brad knows how to tell a story. And in a federal case, your story is the difference between a judge seeing you as the government describes—or as the full person you actually are. That’s what Brad helps people do every day.

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Melinda Bixler

Writer/Consulting

Melinda Bixler first reached out to our team before she was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. From our first call, I knew she was serious. She didn’t just want to go through the motions—she wanted to understand every step, take control, and build a record that mattered.

While serving her sentence, Melinda documented her experience daily on Prison Professors Talent. She wasn’t just writing for the sake of writing—she was building proof of who she was beyond her conviction. She shared her progress with her family and her probation officer, making sure they saw her growth firsthand. A lot of people say they’ll do that work. Melinda actually did it.

When she got out, I asked her to join our team. Today, she works in writing, interviewing, ghostwriting, and sales, helping people take control of their own stories. She knows firsthand how important it is to build a real, documented record—not just for the judge, but for life after prison.

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Scotty Carper

Writer/RDAP Coordinator

Scotty Carper first connected with us after he was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison. What stood out about him right away was his authenticity—he didn’t just accept his situation, he got to work. While at Leavenworth, he wrote a widely read newsletter that tens of thousands of people followed, breaking down what prison was actually like. His ability to communicate complex experiences in a way that made sense to people made it obvious that he’d be an asset to our team.

After his release, Scotty joined White Collar Advice in both sales and content creation. He helps people understand what’s ahead of them, showing them how to prepare, advocate, and take measurable action before sentencing. He also specializes in Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) preparation, a program he was a leader in at Leavenworth Federal Prison Camp

Scotty also plays a key role in Top WCA, our legal directory, helping people connect with trusted attorneys who understand white-collar cases. He’s been through the system, he knows what actually matters, and he makes sure people focus on what will truly move the needle in their case.

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Joseph DeGregorio

Lead Consultant

Joseph DeGregorio called us within an hour of getting a letter from the SEC. From that first conversation, it was clear—he wasn’t going to sit back and wait for the government to define him. He built an undeniable record of advocacy and preparation, and because of that, he got one year and a day instead of the 51 months the government wanted. As soon as he was released, we hired him.

Joseph’s strength is simple—he does the work. He doesn’t ask anyone to do what he hasn’t done himself. As the lead consultant at White Collar Advice, he helps people build real, documented proof of change. He knows firsthand what it takes to counter the government’s version of events and present a real case for leniency.

Before all of this, Joseph was on Wall Street, managing over $50 million in client assets. After his release, he went all in on education—he’s now an alumnus of Columbia University Business School and holds 22 technology certifications, including IBM Machine Learning, AI Engineering, and Blockchain Technology.

Beyond his work with our team, Joseph serves on the National Board of Advisors for the Petey Greene Program at Princeton University, the largest nonprofit reentry program in the country. He’s also developing a technology reentry program to help incarcerated individuals build skills that actually matter when they get out.

Joseph knows exactly what it takes to fight for the best possible outcome—because he’s done it himself.

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Cillian Dunne

Writer

Cillian Dunne first reached out to me about a testimonial for his book, Dreams in Incarceration. After reading it, I saw right away that he wasn’t just a writer—he was someone deeply invested in helping justice-impacted people. His book chronicles the 15-year incarceration of former gang member David Spivey, and during his research, he spoke with incarcerated individuals, gang members, prison wardens, psychologists, and others who work inside the system.

At White Collar Advice, Cillian helps people craft effective messaging for stakeholders like probation officers, judges, and prosecutors. He knows how to structure a personal narrative, release plan, or advocacy letter in a way that actually resonates with decision-makers.

His research and storytelling background extends beyond White Collar Advice. His work has been used in Criminal Justice and Prison Education programs at San Francisco State University, and he’s been featured in The Sun, The Sunday World, and The LA Wave for his contributions to criminal justice research.

Cillian helps people do what matters most—take control of their narrative and show why they’re more than just their charge.

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Arno Roa

Administrative

I met Arno in 2018 through a virtual assistant team, and I knew right away that I wanted him working with us full-time. Since then, he’s become an essential part of White Collar Advice. He has a terrific attitude and wears many hats within our company.

Arno plays a key role in welcoming new people to our community and making sure everything behind the scenes runs smoothly. He organizes our content and asset sheets, posts blogs, podcasts, and videos, and manages countless administrative tasks that keep our operation running. There’s no task he won’t take on, and he’s never afraid to ask for help when needed.

What stands out most about Arno is his humility and willingness to learn. He thrives in structure, keeps things organized, and ensures that the work that needs to get done actually gets done. We’re lucky to have him on our team.

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Michael Carillo

Marketing

Michael Carillo leads our marketing efforts, making sure our content reaches the people who need it most. One of my responsibilities is to create daily content—videos, blogs, guides—to help individuals navigate the criminal justice system. But creating content isn’t enough. It has to get in front of the right people at the right time. That’s where Michael comes in.

Michael’s background in marketing runs deep. As a magna cum laude marketing graduate and former Division 1 and professional quarterback, he’s spent his career helping brands get noticed. He founded Wynner Marketing in 2020, which has now helped over 300 brands and local businesses grow their presence and monetize their audiences.

His expertise in branding and digital engagement ensures that White Collar Advice’s content reaches the people who need it most—people in crisis who are searching for answers.

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