In this episode of Honor Among Thieves, host Nelson Rodriguez Jr. sits down with Gio Martini, a former Bureau of Prisons correctional officer who worked at USP Victorville, widely considered one of the most violent and notorious federal prisons in the United States.

Gio delivers a rare, firsthand account of what it’s really like working inside a high-security federal penitentiary, where some of the oldest and most powerful prison gangs in America operate. From daily prison operations to gang politics, inmate control, and staff survival, this episode exposes the brutal reality behind the walls of USP Victorville.

Before becoming a correctional officer, Gio grew up in Victorville, California, surrounded by violence, addiction, and instability. He opens up about his struggles with substance abuse, his time in the military, and how being discharged shaped the path that eventually led him into the federal prison system as a BOP officer.

Once inside USP Victorville, Gio witnessed the inner workings of a prison infamous for gang dominance, inmate-on-inmate violence, racial politics, and extreme security measures. He breaks down:

How gangs operate inside a federal penitentiary

Which gangs controlled USP Victorville

How correctional officers maintain order

The psychological toll on staff

What inmates and officers face on a daily basis

This conversation offers an unfiltered look into federal prison life, told from the perspective of someone who wore the uniform and worked the tiers.

This episode of Honor Among Thieves pulls back the curtain on the federal prison system, exposing the reality of incarceration, gang power, and survival from a correctional officer’s perspective. Whether you’re interested in true crime, prison documentaries, organized crime, or the Bureau of Prisons, this episode delivers rare insight you won’t hear anywhere else.

⏱️ Chapters

0:00 – Inside USP Victorville: A CO Tells the Truth

4:50 – “Shot Caller” Explained: How Power Really Works in Prison

16:15 – Victorville, California: A Violent City Built to Fail

30:22 – Joining the Army: Discipline, Violence, and Survival

47:07 – From the Military to ICE: Life After Discharge

56:59 – Becoming a Federal Prison Guard (BOP Reality)

1:04:49 – Inside USP Victorville: The Most Notorious Federal Prison

1:30:10 – Prison Gangs at Victorville: Who Really Runs the Yard

1:38:14 – Redemption: Leaving the Life Behind

🎙️ About Honor Among Thieves

Honor Among Thieves is a true crime podcast featuring reformed criminals, former gang members, ex-federal inmates, law enforcement, and victims, offering firsthand insight into organized crime, prison life, drug trafficking, and the criminal underworld.

📌 Have an unbelievable story? Apply to be a guest:

👉 https://www.honoramongthievespodcast.com/guest

🔗 Links

📸 Nelson on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/montanatheprophet/

📸 Gio Martini on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/giothelegend89/

💎 Sponsors

Gus Villa Jewelry

Use Promo Code MONTANA

https://gusvillajewelry.com/

🧠 Federal Prison Resources

https://federalprisontips.com/honor/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices