Earning Freedom with Michael Santos

Prison consultant Justin Paperny discusses ideas that defendants should consider. Many of those defendants hire lawyers blindly. Then, uninformed defendants make decisions that expose them to harsher sanctions. Listen and learn how to prepare.

Since concluding my 26-year journey through federal prison, I've been working toward prison and sentencing reform. The majority of work that I do doesn't generate any revenues. My strategy? I create revenues through other ventures, including real estate investing. Today's podcast shares a strategy that has been working for me.

Austin will soon stand before a federal judge for a sentencing hearing. He pleaded guilty to selling synthetic drugs. That guilty plea resulted in expectations of a federal prison sentence of between seven and nine years. He contacted me in search of information that would help him prepare. Since Austin didn't have the resources to retain me so that we could work together, I invited him on to the podcast so that I could provide some guidance he may consider in preparation for sentencing.

Help spread the word on why we should reform our prison system by subscribing, rating, and reviewing the Earning Freedom podcast on iTunes.

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Today I spoke with Chelsey for the first time in my office. We discussed bringing on a team of interns that she will oversee. I'm very excited to advance this process. Together we will get back on track to producing a new podcast every day.

Isaac Torres started off on the wrong track. He described himself as hanging out with bullies as a child. By the time he was 17, he dropped out of school and faced his first felony. He didn’t learn his lesson. A few years later his activities resulted in his being charged with another felony. Then he met a young woman who mentored him, convincing Isaac to pursue an education. After attending community college to earn his GED, Isaac advanced to earn an undergraduate degree and then a master’s degree. Now he is enrolled in a program that will lead to his earning a Ph.D.

Isaac created a program to reverse the trends of poor people. Through his group known as TheSeedsProgram.org, Isaac mentors young people who were in trouble with the law. He helps those people grasp the power of language. Those who’d like to learn more should visit Theseedsprogram.org. Or they can watch on YouTube by searching for Isaac Torres Poet. Write him directly at [email protected].

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I'll be delivering a keynote presentation soon for prison administrators. The Washington State Department of Corrections invited me to make this presentation for prison administrators in several Western states. In today's podcast I did a reversal. The graphical slides that will accompany the presentation are available on my webiste at the following link:

Mastermind Course for Corrections--Keynote Slides

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Today I spoke with Melissa O’Dell. She gave me an inspiring story about why she works to help people in prison succeed.

Melissa works with the leadership team at Defy Ventures, a nonprofit organization that helps people with criminal backgrounds. They’ve created a program that teaches participants about the principals of entrepreneurship, matches participants with business mentors, and helps successful participants raise funding to launch their business ventures. One successful candidate, Seth Sundberg, made such a powerful presentation that he has received thousands of dollars in funding to launch Prison Bars. Check out his company:

Prison-Bars.com

I encourage listeners to get involved with Defy Ventures. Google has backed the organization with substantial funding. Defy Ventures serves thousands of people with criminal backgrounds, helping them to emerge as law-abiding, contributing citizens. Defy Ventures currently operates in several prisons and jails across the United States.

If you’re inclined to become involved, visit DefyVentures.org and learn how you can participate.

If your loved one is in prison and he wants to participate, reach out to the organization through [email protected] and someone will respond with news on how to participate.

Facing a federal indictment? Then the time is now to begin learning how to master the journey ahead. That is why I created a webinar called:

I created a slide show to accompany the podcast. It's available at the following link:

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In November of 2013, teams of federal law enforcement officials stormed Holli Coulman’s home. She lived in one of the gated communities of Southern California and didn’t have any prior warning that the had become the target of a criminal investigation. In today’s Earning Freedom podcast, Holli helps our listeners understand what it is like to face federal criminal charges for the first time. For example, she learned the high cost of hiring a defense attorney. The entry point for hiring counsel was $50,000—and that was to plead guilty. If Holli would’ve gone to trial, her attorney told her to expect to pay significantly more.

Despite the amount she paid, Holli didn’t feel as if her attorney prepared her well for the challenges to come. She didn’t know anything about what would follow as the government’s investigation advanced. In time, she hired federal prison consultant Justin Paperny, of FederalPrisonAdvice.com. Through Holli’s work with Justin, she was able to develop a strategy that would help her prepare for the 21 month sentence she must serve. Holli is scheduled to surrender to federal prison in less than two months.

If you haven't done so yet, please subscribe to the Earning Freedom podcast. Rate and review Earning Freedom so we can help more people understand America's prison system--and how to thrive through it.

Lazaro went to prison as a teenager. A judge sentenced him to 18 consecutive life sentences. He served that time in maximum-security prisons in the state of Florida. While inside, Lazaro said that he adjusted in the way of the prison system. He didn’t find his way until after he had served many years in prison. Then, he found reason to reject the criminal life style and start preparing for success. Lazaro changed his mindset. Judicial relief finally came, enabling Lazaro to return to society as a law-abiding citizen.

Lazaro currently aspires to help other people who return to society from long prison stays. He wants to assist them in security employment.  Lazaro now operates his own business, and I encourage those in our audience to check him out.

Listeners can reach Lazaro at the following contact information:

[email protected]       email

highendlaborpros.com    website

786-587-6271

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Help spread the word on why we should reform our prison system by subscribing, rating, and reviewing the Earning Freedom podcast on iTunes. 

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