White Collar Advice

Navigating Life After Federal Prison and Learning from Past Mistakes 1: Constant Comparison to Others: I fell into the trap of constantly comparing my progress with others, which engendered anxiety and discontentment. I learned from this experience that everyone's journey is distinct, and focusing on individual growth and progress is crucial. Instead of getting caught up in comparing myself to oth...

Recently, I spoke at USC about white-collar crime and its power to instantly dismantle lives, reputations, and livelihoods. As I expressed to the business students, individuals must understand the value of early preparation to navigate the treacherous waters of a white-collar crime investigation and prosecution. In this article (a shorter summary of what I said at USC), we will explore why prepari...

Today is a big day for Elizabeth Holmes. She has experienced the ups and downs of public life—public acclaim, success, a government investigation, and now, the reality of surrendering to federal prison. As she prepares to serve 135 months, an underappreciated aspect or victory comes into play: she will start accruing credit for time served. Navigating the intricacies of a white-collar crime invest...

In this podcast episode titled "How To Sleep Well In Federal Prison," I share insights into the challenges of sleeping in a bright and noisy environment during my time in federal prison. Throughout my experience, I discovered strategies that significantly improved my sleep quality. Here are key points to consider: Engage in Physical Activity: Regular physical exercise played a transformative role...

Elizabeth Holmes, the once-prominent figure behind Theranos, is on the verge of surrendering to federal prison to serve a sentence of 135 months or just over 11 years. As her self-surrender to prison approaches, we understand that many questions and curiosities surround her impending prison experience. In this podcast, I answer 25 of the most commonly asked questions I have received since covering...

In this podcast, I emphasize the importance of family visits in federal prison based on my experience and what I have learned since my release from federal prison in 2009. I believe these visits are a valuable lifeline beyond mere connection, allowing prisoners to showcase their progress. I encourage fellow prisoners to set the right tone during these visits, and I suggest canceling them if you're...

The living conditions in a federal prison camp can vary, but they are generally less restrictive compared to higher-security facilities. Here are some key aspects of the living conditions in federal prison camps: Housing Living Conditions: Prisoners typically reside in dormitory-style housing units, which may have bunk beds and communal living spaces. Movement: Prisoners have more freedom of movem...

Earlier today, a  doctor from Los Angeles called me  to share his regret about his poor preparations for his sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to one count of tampering with consumer products, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1365(a)(4). Despite having addiction issues, voluntarily surrendering his medical license, and hiring excellent lawyers, he received an unexpected...

In this episode of the White Collar Advice podcast, I share my experience overcoming the challenges and stigma associated with a white-collar crime conviction. I discuss the benefits of adopting an "underdog" mindset and how it can help individuals in similar situations regain their confidence and rebuild their lives. I highlight  ten key benefits of living like an underdog: Resilience Resourceful...

In this podcast, I interview my good friend and former CEO Ron Throgmartin. Ron opens up about his troubled upbringing in Indianapolis, getting adopted, getting involved in the cattle business, becoming the target of a white-collar crime investigation, and his process to retain White Collar Advice. Ron discusses his regrets about not forcing his lawyer to negotiate a plea agreement and the process...

R. Kelly, a Grammy-winning R&B singer, was sentenced to  30 years in federal prison  after being found guilty of federal charges, including racketeering, sexual exploitation of a child, and bribery. Anyone with a brain can see Kelly failed to prepare for his sentencing hearing properly. Why? Like many defendants, R. Kelly let his lawyers do the talking. Specifically, his lawyers said Kelly "experi...

Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, was found guilty of fraud charges and sentenced to 135 months in federal prison. As of now, she is due to surrender to the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan Texas on April 27th 2023. In this podcast, we'll be discussing the dos and don'ts for Elizabeth Holmes in federal prison. In prior videos in our series, I have covered her: First Day in Federal Prison Jobs...

Shortly before I was planning to run this morning, I received a call from an executive in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This executive encouraged me to share the extensive timeline from the White Collar Advice website. I have been reluctant to share the timeline because it seems too self-promoting. This executive viewed it differently. Specifically, he said the timeline was the primary reason he reached...

A victim of Jen Shah called me to discuss her life in prison. She expressed rage over the prison conditions and feels Jen is serving time in a "club fed." In sum, the punishment does not fit the crime. I truly empathize with this person. She was kind, honest, and thoughtful. I could tell she had given a lot of thought to the meaning of justice and how it should be served. While I will not mention...

As you likely know, Sam Bankman-Fried was one of the wealthiest people in crypto, primarily due to FTX and his Alameda Research trading firm. It all came crumbling down in the fall of 2022. The trial is set for October 2022. In this podcast, I compare how his choices compare to Theranos Founder, Elizabeth Holmes, who was recently sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison.  Thank you for jo...

Jen Shah surrenders to the federal prison camp in Bryan Texas today for 6 1/2 years or 78 months. When Jen reached out to our team, she expressed a number of goals or aspirations for her looming prison sentence, including creating a record that documents how she is responding to problems that she alone created. From our first call, we were encouraged by her willingness to learn and do the work. Th...

Our weekly Prison Professors nonprofit free webinar featured Jon Gustin, who recently retired as Administrator of the Residential Reentry Management Branch, overseeing all halfway houses and home confinement programs across the country. During our one-hour webinar, Jon Gustin and I covered: Who determines placement in the halfway house? Can the warden approve a compassionate release? Is it possibl...

10 DRASTIC THINGS To Do If You Are Going To FEDERAL PRISON 1: Tell everyone! 2: Stop Taking Any Shortcuts: I had this thirst for magical shortcuts and easy-to-follow formulas. 3: Very little value from our past, but to learn from it. But that is it. 4: Embrace your tendencies 5: Get in front of people: cold walk, cold call, speak to large groups. 6: Reverse Engineer: Look 10 years out 7: Don't Beg...

Many people involved in government investigations regret the plea agreement they signed. In short, they do not feel the plea agreement is accurate. How can we resolve this program? I cannot guarantee that the problem can totally be resolved, but I know one way to improve it! Before signing a plea agreement, make sure all stakeholders (defense lawyer, United States Attorney, Probation Officer, Judg...

Several months into my federal prison sentence I had my first major "aha" moment. Up until that moment I had spent my days in federal prison doing nothing else besides exercising. I wasn't giving any real thought to the life I was hoping to leave once I left federal prison. I mistakenly presumed everything would work out, and opportunities would open. Then, I began to study my environment, and I r...

A journalist was shocked when I told him, "Today was a good day for Todd and Julie Chrisley. "Please explain," he said. I explain my reasoning in this podcast. Justin Paperny

"As part of our BOP leadership webinar series, we spoke with Jon Gustin, a former leader of the BOP halfway houses and reentry program. During this interview I ask Jon the following questions (amongst others): "Why is the release plan so important" "Why should a defendant have a pre sentence plan?" "How long does one stay in a halfway house? Can you have a phone and car ?" "What if your post-relea...

Earlier this week the team at Nicki Swift asked me the following questions: "Todd Chrisley is set to serve 12 years in FPC Pensacola, a minimum-security prison located in Pensacola, Florida, and his wife Julie will be serving her seven-year sentence at medium security facility FCI Marianna SCP, which has a minimum security satellite campus. Based on your knowledge, which Chrisley might have a hard...

White Collar Advice is proud to sponsor Prison Professors Non-Profit Organization. Part of Prison Professors' mission is to help all justice-impacted people work their way through government investigations and prison. To help accomplish that goal the nonprofit shares insights and knowledge from subject-matter experts.  To that end, Prison Professor's non-profit was fortunate to have Jon Gustin joi...

Regardless of what good Sam Bankman-Fried has done in the past, others will judge him for the criminal misconduct alleged in the complaint. In this podcast, I offer suggestions how Bankman-Friend should do as he prepares for trial or a guilty plea. Justin Paperny