Prison Consultant: Prepare Defendants for Lives of Relevance 

As a prison consultant, I strive to prepare defendants for relevance. With the one-on-one consulting, I teach clients strategies that lead to the lowest possible sanction and prepare them to serve time in the best possible environment. They learn crucial techniques to influence the presentence investigation report (PSI or PSR) and they learn how the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) can advance release dates for some defendants, even people convicted of white-collar crimes. But the depth and breadth of my experience allows me to do more. I also strive to prepare defendants for lives of relevance.

Keith Laszlo: Orange County Office of Education

With that end in mind, I invited Keith Laszlo to participate on today’s podcast. He is a true community leader, devoting his career to preparing youth for leadership. Since many people in prison aspire to improve opportunities for youth when they return to their communities, I wanted them to hear from Keith. In today’s podcast, Keith talks about the satisfaction he derives in working with youth who are vulnerable to challenges from the criminal justice system.

If you’ve been charged with a federal crime, and you anticipate that federal prison may be a possibility, then you owe it to yourself to learn everything you can about the journey ahead. Listen to free podcasts on Earning Freedom. Read the guides available through PrisonProfessor.com. Or if you want more personal assistance, reach out for your personal prison consultant. In your due diligence, you’ll find value in the depth and breadth of my experience. You can navigate your way through the challenges ahead and back to a life of relevance.

Vernon Foster provides a resource for people who want to use podcasting as a tool to develop their personal brand or business. He and his team of engineers do all of the mixing and posting. Podcasters who want to focus on recording extraordinary content, then outsourcing the backend work, can retain Vernon through "Pod Parrot" enterprise.I participated as a guest on his program and felt so inspired by his message that I invited him to share his story with our Earning Freedom listeners.

Prison Consultant for White-Collar Offenders:

As a prison consultant for White-Collar Offenders and others who face struggle, I offer an abundance of free content, premium content, and personal consulting. Every day I offer a new podcast. The podcast either share strategies that empowered me through 26 years in prison. They feature other formerly incarcerated individuals who discuss their strategies for success. Or I interview community leaders who discuss leadership and their expectations from people who have criminal convictions. Through all of this content, I strive to empower others.

Education in Prison:

If you’d like prison advice on education, then you will want to listen to today’s podcast. I share Dino’s story. Dino is an African-American who grew up in the inner-city. Dino committed crimes that resulted in a judge sentencing him to a lengthy term in federal prison. While incarcerated, however, Dino recognized that he could the time inside to prepare for success. He talks about the strategies he pursued while serving his sentence, and he talks about how those strategies allowed him to pursue an undergraduate program, earn straight-As, and then receive a full scholarship to earn his Ph.D. from UCLA, one of the best schools in the nation.

If you’re a white-collar offender facing time for a business-related crime, and you’re struggling with anxiety, then you may find inspiration from stories like the one Dino tells. An individual may face an indictment, and prison may bring separation from family. Yet just as gold is tested through fire, you too can test your strength through the fire of adversity. Use the guides I make available through PrisonProfessor.com to navigate your way through the challenges ahead. Or contact me to serve as your personal prison consultant. I’ll help you emerge from this experience successfully, positioning you for the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) so you can earn your sentence reduction and come home at the earliest possible time, more successfully than ever. Who knows, you may choose prison as an opportunity to pursue your Ph.D.

What is a Prison Consultant?

I attended a gathering last night at an extraordinary Potomac, Maryland home. Most all of the other guests were attorneys. Sam Sheldon, who hosted the event, formerly worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. He is now a partner at Quinn Emanuel, one of the nation’s most elite, white-glove law firms. Sam Morrison was also present. For more than a decade, he worked at the U.S. Pardon Attorney’s office and he now specializes in representing people who apply for clemency or pardons. Julie Stewart, the founder of FAMM was also present. There were several other lawyers in the room, including my friend Shon Hopwood, who clerks for the DC Circuit Court. The evening’s discussion centered on concepts related to prison or sentence reform, the injustices of mass incarceration, and the work that I’m doing to earn a living. One guest asked, “What is a prison consultant?”

Although I do a considerable amount of work without compensation, through PrisonProfessor.com I earn my living. Products on PrisonProfessor.com and prison consulting services I offer provide insight to people who do not adhere to the criminal lifestyle, but have been indicted for a crime.

Generally, my clients are white-collar offenders who are traumatized by the thought that prison may be a possibility. I don’t offer legal advice. Instead, I provide a specialty service, helping them prepare for the best possible outcome. Those consultations include helping them prepare for the presentence investigation, helping them understand programs like the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), which can result in their receiving time off their sentence, and also understanding a best-practice way of serving time so that they can position themselves for an easier journey, both in prison and beyond.

Through the free daily podcasts that I offer on the Earning Freedom network, and the abundance of articles I publish, I provide an abundance of free content. White-collar offenders who find that information can ascertain the value that I can provide as they confront the difficult challenges of a criminal prosecution. And as Sam Morrison, a lawyer who once worked for the Pardon Attorney told me last night, this work can help to position those defendants for clemency or a pardon later on down the journey. That is the work I do as a prison consultant.

Cole Geir hosts the popular podcast Infinite Upgrade. He strives to help people improve their life, taking them to “version 2.0.” Cole interviews business leaders and others who contribute to society. From those interviews, Cole and his listeners learn strategies that will empower them to achieve higher levels of success. They share patterns, like setting goals, waking up early, leading a deliberate life. Learning about journaling and other strategies. People facing imprisonment can benefit from Cole’s strategies. Check out his podcast: Infinite Upgrade  

Title: Prison Advice from Philanthropist

As a prison consultant for white-collar offenders, I strive to provide a combination of free and premium content in a number of formats. Some of that content features strategies that empowered me through 26 years in federal prison. Some of the content features stories I recorded about other people who went through prison successfully. We discuss strategies and early-release programs like the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) and other possibilities for early release. Sometimes I profile leading community citizens and ask them to share their thoughts. They speak about leadership and describe how those principles can help an individual emerge from prison successfully.

In today’s free podcast, I share the story of Patrick Johnson. Patrick is a former hedge fund manager and investment banker. He now leads a large philanthropy and strives to make the world a better place. Patrick came across my work in Business Insider. I write about my work as a prison consultant for many publications, including Business Insider. The article moved Patrick to follow my work, read my books, and connect.

Prison Consultant Gets Tips from Philanthropist

I participated on Patrick’s podcast called Lunch… During our conversation Patrick asked about the strategies that empowered me through prison. The conversation went so well that I invited Patrick to participate on the Earning Freedom podcast. Since Patrick built a career as a financial services professional, I thought that many of the white-collar offenders who contact me for prison advice could benefit from his insight.

The truth is, as a prison consultant, I strive to pull insight from as many sources as possible. I want the people who contact me to recognize a pattern. An individual who has been indicted for securities fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, healthcare fraud, or any other type of crime can slip into a vortex. But as Patrick and I discussed today, there is always an opportunity for reconciliation and growth. Each individual must make his or her choice. The podcasts I offer may inspire those who are looking to restore their strength after an indictment.

If you’re facing time in prison for a white-collar crime or a first-offense, and you’d like to learn more about how to make it through successfully, please review the free content that I offer on MichaelSantos.com and PrisonProfessor.com. You may contact me directly if you’d like more personal service. I can help.

Prison Consultant for White-Collar Offenders  

I may have begun my business as a prison consultant for white-collar offenders. But Miranda McCroskey inspired me to become a podcaster. She and her husband, Bill, produce a popular podcast for lawyers and for those who serve the legal profession. It’s called Lawpreneurradio.com. While listening to Miranda interview one of Orange County’s premier federal white-collar defense attorneys, Diane Bass, I reached out. I had a reason. 

Through my website at PrisonProfessor.com, I receive many inquiries from white-collar offenders. They have been charged with crimes like wire fraud, tax fraud, mortgage fraud, securities fraud, or other types of offenses that relate to business. They’ve never faced criminal charges before. Through their research, they come across my work as a prison consultant. When they begin asking questions about the law, I tell them that I’m not a lawyer. Through our discussions, they ask what questions they should ask when hiring a lawyer. Truthfully, I didn’t know the answer.

When I heard Miranda interview Diane Bass, I came up with an idea. I could reach out to white-collar defense attorneys and interview them. I’d ask those attorneys for guidance on what defendants should ask when in the market for a defense attorney. That research led me to Miranda’s work at lawpreneuer.com. I found her to be outstanding resource and mentor. All I would need to become a podcaster was listen and learn from her.

I reached out to Miranda and she graciously invited me to visit her at the Center Club in Costa Mesa. Miranda hosts her show at the elegant business location. We had lunch together. While we ate, I listened as Miranda told me about the methodical steps she took to build such an influential platform. Then she allowed me to watch as she interviewed three lawyers. I felt so impressed and inspired by her skill that I returned to my office that evening and placed an order for all the equipment I would need to start the Earning Freedom podcast. 

Miranda appeared as a guest on my show today. I asked her to come for a reason. I know that a lot of the people who listen to my show are without hope. Whether an individual is in prison, or an individual may be going to prison, a person may feel as if there isn’t any light at the other end. But that isn’t true. If I could serve 26 years in federal prison and come out to find mentors like Miranda, then anyone could emerge from struggle and build a better life. It doesn’t matter if an individual was once a CEO who was indicated for securities violations, or if the individual was going to prison for selling weed. There is always a path to a brighter future. In Miranda’s story, those who listen can learn and feel inspired. I trust and admire her. And if a reader is in the market for an attorney, they may reach out to contact Miranda:

Miranda McCroskey

Lawpreneurradio.com

host@lawpreneurradio.com    

Prison Consultant for White-Collar Offenders:

As a prison consultant for white-collar offenders, I strive to provide a combination of free and premium content in a number of formats. Some of that content features strategies that empowered me through 26 years in federal prison. Some of the content features stories I recorded about other people who went through prison successfully. We discuss strategies and early-release programs like the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP) and other possibilities for early release. Sometimes I profile leading community citizens and ask them to share their thoughts. They speak about leadership and describe how those principles can help an individual emerge from prison successfully.

In today’s free podcast, I share the story of Patrick Johnson. Patrick is a former hedge fund manager and investment banker. He now leads a large philanthropy and strives to make the world a better place. Patrick came across my work in Business Insider. I write about my work as a prison consultant for many publications, including Business Insider. The article moved Patrick to follow my work, read my books, and connect.

Prison Consultant Gets Tips from Philanthropist

I participated on Patrick’s podcast called Lunch… During our conversation Patrick asked about the strategies that empowered me through prison. The conversation went so well that I invited Patrick to participate on the Earning Freedom podcast. Since Patrick built a career as a financial services professional, I thought that many of the white-collar offenders who contact me for prison advice could benefit from his insight.

The truth is, as a prison consultant, I strive to pull insight from as many sources as possible. I want the people who contact me to recognize a pattern. An individual who has been indicted for securities fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, healthcare fraud, or any other type of crime can slip into a vortex. But as Patrick and I discussed today, there is always an opportunity for reconciliation and growth. Each individual must make his or her choice. The podcasts I offer may inspire those who are looking to restore their strength after an indictment.

If you’re facing time in prison for a white-collar crime or a first-offense, and you’d like to learn more about how to make it through successfully, please review the free content that I offer on MichaelSantos.com and PrisonProfessor.com. You may contact me directly if you’d like more personal service. I can help.    

Prison Consultant: Emerge From Prison Successfully

As a prison consultant, I strive to present empowering stories that profile others who work to emerge from prison successfully. The stories portray people who encountered the prison system and used their time inside to prepare for success. Sometimes I share stories of well-educated white-collar offenders who face prison because of fraud convictions. Sometimes I interview people who come from less privileged backgrounds. There is an inspiring message with every story of an individual who faced struggle, but overcame the challenge to emerge with dignity intact. 

Today I present the story of Malik Wade. Malik did not enter the federal prison system as a well-educated white-collar offender convicted of fraud. On the contrary, Malik grew up in an urban community, influenced by a criminal lifestyle. While serving longer than a decade, however, Malik completely reformed his life. He created opportunities to educate himself. He participated in the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), which allowed him to shave a year off of his sentence.

In today’s podcast, Malik shares how an individual can move through struggle with his dignity intact as a law-abiding, contributing citizen. If Malik could emerge from prison successfully, just think what you can do!

Malik’s impressive adjustment through prison has resulted in his returning to society with many opportunities. Venture capitalists, hedge fund leaders, and CEOs have reached out to support Malik. They’ve sponsored a venture he initiated to prepare young people from urban communities for success.

The work that Malik has done, and his return to society as a law-abiding, contributing citizen, may serve to inspire anyone who listens. Facing imprisonment can challenge anyone. Some consider the prospect of imprisonment as one of the worst challenges an individual can face. Those who’ve overcome prison share guidance that can benefit anyone.

Prison Consultant

The 26 years I served provide a depth and breadth of experience that differs from any other prison consultant. Many white-collar or first-time offenders who anticipate surrendering to prison contact me with descriptions of hopelessness. When educated people face prison for the time they can slip into a vortex. It’s my job to help them restore their strength and dignity.

The free podcasts available at MichaelSantos.com demonstrate that there is a path back to success and prosperity. Malik Wade shows that he can do it. If you’ve been convicted of a white-collar crime like securities fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, or any other type of crime that may bring a prison term, visit PrisonProfessor.com for guidance. Or, if you would like to schedule a free personal consultation, contact me now.

I help people prepare for prison and to prepare for success upon release.

Karent's Husband is In Prison

Karen has a husband who serves time in prison. She contacted me searching for clarity on how prisons operate.

Karen has a husband who serves time in prison. While in his late teens, he was convicted of a crime related to the distribution of drugs. Following his release from prison, her husband returned to school and he earned an undergraduate degree. Then he earned a graduate degree. As a convicted felon, he faced challenges finding employment—despite his educational accomplishments. Discouragement in the job market led her husband back to drug trafficking. Now he is incarcerated again and Karen contacted me. 

During our 30-minute conversation, we spoke about custody and classification, the Residential Drug Abuse Program, and differences in security levels. Karen’s husband serves an enhanced sentence because of a firearms charge. Recognizing challenges in the job market for convicted felons, Karen’s husband has solid plans to launch an entrepreneurial venture upon release.

Karen’s story is the second in a series that portrays strong prison wives. Jo started that network to serve the millions of woman and family members who suffer ancillary consequences because of our nation’s misguided commitment to mass incarceration. Those who want to learn more may visit the following sites: 

Strong Prison Wives / Facebook / Twitter

Strong Prison Wives

This weekend I had memories of prison visiting rooms. Carole and I married inside of a prison visiting room on June 24^th, 2003. I’d been incarcerated for longer than 16 years and I still had another 10 years to serve. When Carole came into my life, my journey became infinitely more fulfilling. We were able to grow together. Despite the years that would separate us, my love for Carole grew stronger every day.

When I emerged from prison, after more than a quarter century, Carole stood in her beautiful yellow dress. For the first time, we kissed and held each other outside the scrutiny of prison officials. We’d grown incredibly close over the course of our relationship. And we would continue growing closer in the months to come, especially after I transitioned from the halfway house to home confinement. We were married for longer than a decade before we ever shared a bed.

It’s now been more than 20 months since I returned to society. And coming back, I now have infinitely more appreciation, admiration, and respect for Carole and for all prison wives. I know the sacrifices wives and family members make when they love a man who is incarcerated. Frequently I’ve written that prison is much harder on the family than it is on the prisoner. After all, while inside, a man is surrounded by others who proceed through similar challenges. Wives, on the other hand, live without much in the way of support or understanding.

I’m dedicating the next three episodes of Earning Freedom to Strong Prison Wives. It’s a support group for women and family members who love incarcerated men. I learned about Ro, the founder of Strong Prison Wives after speaking with Karen, a woman who will appear on tomorrow’s episode. Ro is in love with a man who unjustly serves a sentence of more than 200 years. I consider the sentence unjust because it serves no purpose and it is inconsistent with an enlightened society. 

The absurd sentence that Ro’s husband serves is the result of mandatory-minimum sentencing laws. They require increasingly longer consecutive sentences for people who were convicted of felonies that involved a firearm. Ro’s described her husband’s crime as carrying an eight-year sentence. Yet since he carried firearms while in the commission of his crimes, the judge imposed multiple consecutive terms that stretched the term to the absurd length of more than 200 years. Those who would like to learn may visit Help Free Adam, a website that Ro has built in support of her husband. Those read through the well-written work will see how hard Adam works to earn his freedom and to prove worthy of the support he receives. He has been incarcerated for 16 years, and Ro has stood by his side as a strong prison wife.

In our first interview that features Strong Prison Wives, Ro talks about the complications that accompany her love. You will hear a remarkably strong woman who does everything within her power to strengthen her husband. She is an inspiration, showing the power that love can bring. Anyone can feel inspired by her passion, her energy, and her commitment. With more than 2.3 million people in prison, there are millions of others in society who can use the benefit that Ro’s organization provides. Supporting the incarcerated and their families is one way to sow seeds of hope, and that hope can lead to a safer, more enlightened society.

Support Strong Prison Wives cause by visiting the social media channels that Ro and her team put together, including: 

Strong Prison Wives / Facebook / Twitter

Prison Reform in California 

Karen is a student at Grossmont College in San Diego. She studies criminal justice and wrote:

“Mr. Santos: I am a big fan of yours and have read a couple of your books. Your life is a testament to fortitude, discipline, resolve, and what the human spirit can achieve and endure.”

When I received Karen’s message, I felt immediately moved. While serving 26 years in prisons of every security level, I aspired to work toward connecting with society and contributing in any way that was possible. As a university student who aspired to improve outcomes of America’s criminal justice system, Karen reached out with some questions on massive prison-reform legislation that has taken place in California. She wanted me to provide my thoughts on AB 109 and Prop 47. 

Although I served my entire sentence inside the federal prison system, rather than the state of California prison system, I had some insight to both of those laws. In fact, I published a few articles on AB 109 for the Huffington Post.

Both of those laws resulted as a correction to the wrongheaded commitment California made to mass incarceration. This state once led the way in building prisons and prison population levels. When the recession hit, legislators began to rethink the wisdom of mass incarceration. The Supreme Court forced California’s hand with a ruling that indicated California violated the constitutional rights of prisoners. The high court ordered California to reduce its prison population by a massive amount. That led to reforms like AB 109 and Prop 47. 

In today’s podcast, I responded to Karen’s questions about prison reform and explained my perspective on why every American citizen should be concerned with reforms that would lead to a more effective criminal justice system. It’s my hope that she found some value in my response and that listeners will as well. 

Goals Lead to $100 Million Real Estate Development Company

In today’s episode, I’m featuring Keaton and Chris Scerri. Keaton is six years old. At this young age he learns from the Shark Tank television series. He spoke about following a deliberate path to success: Staying close to his mommy and daddy and preparing himself to lead, like his father, Chris Scerri.

Chris Scerri is partners with Seth Nobmann. Together they own Advanced Building Solutions, a real estate development company with more than $100 million in projects under construction. Chris spoke with our audience about his career. Eight years ago he did not know much of anything about real estate development. With hard work and discipline, however, Chris and his partner have built an extraordinary company. We can learn a lot from his story.

As a real estate developer, Chris said that he adhered to the same principals that we teach in our MasterMind program at the Earning Freedom network. He looks at properties and determines whether he can develop the property into something more valuable. Rather than simply talking about what he is going to build, Chris takes a deliberate, methodical approach. He considers the project from a micro perspective, taking every detail into account. By building spreadsheets Chris can estimate costs and determine whether the project will bring a worthwhile return on investment. He uses spreadsheets to create accountability logs and to stay on track. When conditions arise that change markets, Chris makes adjustments. By being completely transparent, Chris overcomes obstacles and persuades others to invest alongside him. He is a man who is in control of his life and business. He knows how to pursue the type of values-based, goal-oriented decisions that lead to success.

I find Chris’ story inspiring and I look to him as a role model. In eight years Chris went from not knowing much of anything about real estate development to building a company that brings more than $100 million in properties to market. It’s no wonder that Keaton wants to follow in his father’s footsteps. I do too.

Six-year old Keaton talks about learning from Shark Tank and from his dad. He is on a deliberate path to success. We'll hear from his dad, Chris Scerri, next, who will tell us his strategy of using goals to build a $100 million real estate development company.

Molly Gill is the government affairs counsel for Families Against Mandatory Minimums. She spoke on the Earning Freedom network to discuss crucial work FAMM does to educate policymakers, members of the media, and ultimately, members of Congress on the injustices associated with mandatory-minimum sentences. Mandatory-minimum sentences treat everyone who is convicted of a particular crime the same. In her brief time assisting with the prosecution of cases, Molly had an up-close and personal view of the injustices associated with mandatory-minimum sentences. She took action to bring meaningful change.

Since Congress began to make widespread use of mandatory-minimum sentences in the late 1980s, our country’s prison population has surged. We lead the world in the number of people we incarcerate. As Justice Anthony Kennedy and Attorney General Eric Holder have said, our country incarcerates far too many people, and prisoners serve sentences that are far too long. Mandatory-minimum sentences represent part of the reason that our nation’s prison population levels have grown at record numbers.

When Molly joined FAMM eight years ago, few members of Congress had any interest in supporting legislation that would lead to sentencing or prison reform. Times have changed. On today’s podcast, Molly spoke about unprecedented support all political parties offer for meaningful reforms. Still, reform is a heavy lift.

The Smarter Sentencing Act is one of the most promising bills that Molly is striving to advance in Congress right now. Sponsors of that bill include Republicans, Democrats, and Libertarians. If Congress passes the legislation, and the President signs the Act into law, the reform would result in a 50% cut to some federal mandatory-minimum drug sentences. Further, the new law would provide retroactivity to earlier legislation that would benefit 8,000 people who qualify for relief from draconian crack-law sentences.

Despite the need for sentence and prison reform, Molly and her team at FAMM need more support. They need people to contact members of Congress and express why our nation’s commitment to mass incarceration and mandatory-minimum sentences represent the greatest social injustice of our time. The Earning Freedom network can help. Please visit FAMM’s website’s “Get Involved” tab. Simply follow the prompts. You can sign an online petition that will result in your voice being heard by members of Congress. Please join us in being the change that you want to see in the world.

Jethro Jones discusses his Passion for Education

Jethro Jones inspires me. After listening to a mentor speak about the importance of building strong communities, Jethro devoted his life to education. He now serves as a principal of a junior school in Kodiak, Alaska.

Jethro and I connected when he invited me to participate on his podcast, the Transformative Principal.

He has produced more than 70 episodes in an effort to rejuvenate the passion of other educators. Jethro mostly interviews other principals or educators. They share experiences about making a difference in the lives of students. When Jethro and I spoke, we ventured into the challenges teachers face when working with young people who are at-risk of exposure to the criminal justice system. Since I know that many people in prison want to redeem their own past bad decisions by working to contribute to schools, I asked Jethro how school administrators would respond to such offers.

I appreciated Jethro’s guidance. He pointed that school districts would have reservations about bringing people with felony backgrounds onto the grounds. Each individual who works with children will need to undergo a background check. A felony conviction would raise flags. Jethro advised our audience about alternatives. He suggested that people who were serious about wanting to contribute to schools could take some action steps such using the new media. People with felony backgrounds could offer real value to teachers if they could deliver a message of personal transformation through mediums that might include podcasts, webinars, or written material.

In light of Jethro’s guidance, I’m going to create a series of podcasts on the Earning Freedom network specifically for educators.

• I will interview young people who share stories about the bad decisions they faced.
• I will ask those people to describe the consequences that followed their bad decisions.
• I will ask what they would have done differently.
  I will ask what motivated them to transform their life.

After I record a sufficient number of those interviews, I’ll create lesson plans around the content. I’ll make the lesson plans available on a Google doc, and I’ll write them at an age-appropriate level. Then I will offer the lessons to schools, in a downloadable format. That way, teachers could offer the lessons without having the complication of having to bring people with felony backgrounds onto the school grounds. 

For those who would like to learn more about Jethro Jones and his leadership programs, please visit the following links: 

Website

http://www.jethrojones.com/home/

Itunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/transformative-principal/id770942472?mt=2

Twitter

 https://twitter.com/jethrojones

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/jethro-jones/6/ba/b03

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/jethrojones

PrisonProfess.com is a website I created to help defendants understand the challenges of a criminal prosecution. More importantly, PrisonProfessor offers guidance that will empower them. The lessons teach strategies that will position a defendant for the lowest possible sentence, that will allow him to serve the sentence in the best possible environment, and that will set him on a course to return to society most successfully.

Kevin Boardman: Preparing to Surrender to Prison

Kevin Boardman built a career as a private jet pilot for Fortune 100 companies. He flew the best corporate jets in the world. After pleading guilty to federal charges for fraud, Kevin now prepares himself to surrender to prison.

Kevin and I connected because he works with my friend and partner, Justin Paperny of Federal Prison Advice. He had some questions about the journey ahead and I devoted today’s episode to help Kevin understand more about what he could expect from a journey through federal prison.

Kevin told me that when he spoke with Justin Paperny, he began to restore a sense of hope and meaning. Kevin acknowledged that he had made some bad decisions. He is eager to use his time in prison to begin preparing for a better life upon release.

Today’s episode will help others identify with the challenges and anxieties that white-collar offenders face prior to surrendering to federal prison.

Wall Street Lawyer Goes to Prison

Michael Kimelman isn’t the type of person anyone would expect to experience imprisonment. He graduated from top-tier universities and began his career as an attorney with Sullivan and Cromwell, one of the most respected law firms on Wall Street. In pursuit of higher earnings, he transitioned to finance, working with hedge funds. Then Michael launched his own proprietary trading firm to manage investor’s money.

Michael’s career in finance grew, with more than $200 million in management. All went well until market reversals led to a rise in white-collar crime prosecutions. FBI agents raided Michael’s home, with guns drawn. They arrested him for violating securities laws. Rather than cooperating, he chose to exercise his right to plead not guilty and he went to trial. The outcome of that trial brought a prison term.

In today’s episode on Earning Freedom, Michael spoke about his experience in prison. He faced challenges, even though he served his sentence inside the minimum-security prison camp at Lewisburg. Michael describes his experience in the Residential Drug and Alcohol Program (RDAP) and other aspects of his journey.

After concluding his time in prison, Michael transitioned to a halfway house in the Bronx. He offers tips for people in prison, with suggestions that can ease their transition into the halfway house. Following his completion of time in the halfway house, Michael began to resume his career. He is succeeding in triumphing over challenges that complicate the lives of others who proceeded through prison without a plan. Michael has launched new ventures in the entertainment world and real estate investing.

Despite having a felony record, an individual can prepare in ways that lead to success. Michael Kimelman serves as an example to others. An individual can choose to allow external forces to derail possibilities for success, or an individual can choose to carve out a new path. Listen and learn from this success story that emerged from federal prison. 

Contact Michael through Twitter: @MikeKimelman

Crips Gang Leader to Community Leader 

Jerron Jordan used to be a leader in the notorious Crips street gang, and a leader in prison gangs. As a young man, authorities arrested him for armed robbery. He set out to make a name for himself while locked inside high security prisons in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He fought, he stabbed people, and he faced disciplinary proceedings that included a two-year journey in the hole. While in the Special Housing Unit, Jordan transformed his life.

Another prisoner’s question pushed Jerron into deep introspection. As a young black man of 25, with two strikes against him, he began assessing the decisions he had made. Those thoughts led him to conclude that he was on the wrong path, bringing nothing but pain to his family and community. Wanting something better, Jerron chose to change.

He began to educate himself while locked inside that SHU cell, reading every book that he could. When he returned to the prison’s general population, Jerron quit participating in gang activities and started focusing on how he would emerge from prison. He changed the vocabulary he used. He stopped sagging his pants. He chose to associate himself with other people that were rejecting the criminal lifestyle.

Jordan emerged from prison and he began a completely new life as a law-abiding citizen. That approach resulted in the world responding differently to him. Instead of fearing him, others began to invest their time and resources to help Jordan achieve new goals. He associated with community council members, law enforcement, and other community leaders. Jordan persuaded a business owner to mentor him, and he persuaded others to invest in him. With a few hundred dollars he launched his first venture, a vending machine company. With ingenuity and hard work, Jordan grew that business from a single vending machine to a company with more than 100 vending machines.

Wanting to contribute to his community, Jordan sold his vending machine company for a healthy profit and began devoting his time to improving opportunities for young people of color in the Stockton community. He became a force in his community, launching a number of initiatives that made the former gang member a partner of leaders in Stockton. In 2015, Jordan relocated to Los Angeles to become a contributing leader to a larger nonprofit that improves opportunities for people of color. He truly embodies the concept of redemption, and we all can find inspiration in Jordan’s story. I encourage you to listen to his podcast if you want to hear about a young man who moved beyond a troubled past that included gang life and imprisonment to become a contributing citizen.

Flip Host

Jared Lichtin is a 28-year-old real estate entrepreneur who hosts the top-rated podcast Flip. Through his podcast, Jared teaches people how to make money buying, rehabbing, and flipping residential real estate. He tells people that they can make enough money in real estate to leave jobs behind and pursue the much more lucrative career of real estate investments.

What makes Jared’s story and his podcast so compelling is that he doesn’t ask anyone to do anything that he doesn’t do. Indeed, despite graduating law school and earning a six-figure income as an oil-and-gas attorney, he quit practicing law to focus exclusively on real estate investing. Jared is 100% transparent. Through his podcast, he provides real-time insight into exactly how he succeeds. Today Jared told his story of Flip for the Earning Freedom podcast.

Jared also hosts the wildly popular podcast Flip, teaching others how to make enough money in flipping real estate. With so much volatility in the stock market, and terrible yields in the bond markets, Jared describes a real niche industry in flipping real estate.

First, he persuades investors to believe in him. Once he gets the capital commitment, Jared ventures into the market to find the ideal property. He negotiates a great price. Then, using a combination of sweat equity and subcontractors, he refurbishes the property in an effort to increase market value. He then sells the property and he splits the proceeds with his investors.

Many who listen to the Earning Freedom podcast will want to create their own entrepreneurial ventures. They will find value in listening and learning from Jared Lichtin on today’s episode. I trust they’ll want to subscribe to Flip, a great resource for those interested in lerning more about real estate investing. 

Contact Jared:

Flip Website:

http://www.flipjl.com/

Flip Twitter:

https://twitter.com/JaredLichtin

Flip Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/FlipPodcast

Flip Instagram:

https://instagram.com/jaredlichtin

Project Rebound

Jason Bell leads the Project Rebound program at San Francisco State University. Earlier we heard from Airto Morales, Jason’s colleague who works with him at Project Rebound. Together, they devote their time and energy to help formerly incarcerated individuals advance into society as law-abiding citizens. 

I have an indirect relationship with Project Rebound. While I was incarcerated, I read about the program’s founder. While serving time in a California State prison, John Irwin enrolled in a college program. He advanced to earn his Ph.D and to become one of America’s leading penologists. He founded Project Rebound in the 1970s. I reached out to him from prison to let him know how much his work inspired me.

Jason also learned about Project Rebound while he was serving a prison term. Upon his release, he enrolled and now he works to spread the value this program offers to others.

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James Jones met me at the Oakland airport in a beautiful Lincoln SUV. The city of Santa Rosa retained his company to drive me from the Oakland airport to the Hyatt Hotel in the beautiful city of Santa Rosa. As we drove, James and I spoke and it turned out that we shared a history of imprisonment. On the spur of the moment, I asked James to tell our audience at the Earning Freedom network to reveal his story. We recorded his audio while driving. I wanted listeners to hear James’ thoughts on the importance of preparing for success after incarceration. After serving about one year in the California state prison system, James has gone on to lead a law-abiding life.

Project Rebound: Airto Morales 

Airto Morales is a leader at Project Rebound, an innovative program at San Francisco State University. The Project Rebound program helps the formerly incarcerated transition into the university.

Today Airto tells his story on the Earning Freedom podcast. Prior to joining Project Rebound, Airto was in prison. He began serving a sentence in state prison for a serious crime. While serving nine years, he began contemplating how he would spend the rest of his life.

Another prisoner told Airto about Project Rebound. As soon as authorities released him, Airto visited San Francisco State University to inquire how he could participate. He went on to earn his undergraduate degree and his master’s degree from San Francisco State University. Now Airto teaches undergraduate students, facilitates the Project Rebound program, and he continues efforts to build a more vibrant community by helping the formerly incarcerated transition into society as law abiding citizens.

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