Why Your Reentry Plan Matters—Even If You Think You Don't Need One

The First Step Act allows early release for people who show they're extraordinary and compelling—but that requires proof. That means building a clear reentry plan before prison. Don't just say you've changed—show it. Document what you're learning, how you're contributing, and why you won't return to court. Case managers hear excuses every day. What they rarely see is real preparation. I told the Chrisleys the same thing before they surrendered: show your work. That's how you influence outcomes.

Join our weekly webinar every Tuesday at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern to start building your reentry plan the right way.

Cooperation Isn't Enough: Build a Record That Earns Leniency

A defendant called me in a panic after hearing retired FBI agent Paul Bertrand—who arrested me—speak at our webinar. Paul said that in decades with the Bureau, he saw only one case where cooperation alone kept someone out of prison. The defendant realized he'd spent three years doing nothing but cooperating. No restitution. No work. No progress. Just waiting. His lawyer finally told him the truth: cooperation helps, but it doesn't replace action.

Real leniency comes from showing change, not just cutting a deal.

Join our weekly webinar every Tuesday at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern.

The Chrisley Pardons: What Comes Next Matters More Than the Headlines

Todd and Julie Chrisley were pardoned—and the reaction has been split. Some say it's unfair since they went to trial and didn't admit guilt. Others say their prison terms were too long. I've worked with the family post-sentencing and with their daughter Lindsay on media strategy, so I get why people ask my take. Here it is: we send too many people to prison. Warehousing people in minimum-security camps for decades—like my partner, who served 26 years for a nonviolent drug crime—doesn't help victims or society. Real reform looks like work release, parole, and earned freedom.

If you get a second chance, don't waste it. Focus on what you've learned, how you'll contribute, and how you'll fix what you can.

Join our weekly webinar every Tuesday at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern.

Start Preparing Before the Government Finishes Building Their Case

If you're under investigation, don't wait. A young man in San Diego hesitated to prepare because his lawyer said it might "look guilty." But let's be clear—getting arrested already did that. The government doesn't sit around; FBI agents start investigations with timelines, victim interviews, and spreadsheets. Why should you be any different? Like an athlete preparing for postseason, your job is to show progress, not panic. Waiting doesn't help—it only gives them a head start.

Real Step to Take: Document your efforts, build a mitigation plan, and get moving.

Join our weekly webinar every Tuesday at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern.

Why Doing the Work Still Matters—Even If It Doesn't Shorten Your Sentence

A man texted me during Mission Impossible asking, "What if I do everything and still get the same sentence?" My answer: it's still worth it. If you're building a real record—seeking work, helping others, showing victims you mean it—then you're not just reacting to your case, you're reshaping your identity. Michael Santos spent 26 years in prison and heard the same doubts. He didn't wait. Neither should you.

Start now. Join our weekly webinar every Tuesday at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern. Learn how to build a mitigation record that matters.

White Collar Crime, Immigration, and the Cost of Inaction

A man living in the U.S. for over 30 years ignored clear warnings: he wasn't a citizen, and he was under white collar investigation. I told him last August—get a lawyer, get ahead of it, read the DOJ's memo on self-reporting and immigration risk. He brushed it off. Now, he's detained without bond and will be deported after serving time. This isn't theory—it's real. The DOJ is prioritizing immigration enforcement and rewarding early cooperation in white collar cases. Don't wait.

Join our weekly webinar every Tuesday at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern to get ahead before it's too late.

After Monday's webinar, my inbox filled up. A few people said they learned something. Some asked where to start. But most just admitted they felt stuck.

They said things like: "I'm too ashamed." "I'm too old." "It's too late." "What's the point?"

This episode is about those questions—and the quiet decision to do nothing that usually follows them.

I share real stories: a doctor who said he'd do anything except the one thing that mattered. A father who claimed family was his highest value but couldn't spend two hours preparing for his probation interview. Their words and their actions didn't match—and it cost them.

This isn't about motivational fluff. It's about the gap between what people say matters to them and what they actually do when it counts.

I also talk about what happens when you don't create a record—when you let the DOJ press release tell your story for years because you were afraid to say anything else. One man lost nearly everything because of that silence.

You don't need to be polished. You don't need to be ready. You just need to begin. Rebuilding doesn't start with a grand plan. It starts with a paragraph, a post, a conversation.

If you've been wondering what people will remember about you—this episode is for you.

Justin Paperny

What a Retired FBI Agent Says Defendants Always Get Wrong

Last week, I interviewed retired FBI agent Paul Bertrand, and his message was blunt: stop calling your crime non-violent or victimless. He's seen fraud victims lose everything—money, businesses, even their lives. And if there's no clear victim? The "victim" becomes the taxpayer, because federal resources were spent on your case. Bertrand believes sentences should be longer for white-collar offenders who dodge accountability. If you're facing charges, don't waste time defending labels—start preparing to show how you'll make things right. Join our weekly webinar every Tuesday at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern to learn how to build that plan.

Why Hiding a Federal Conviction Can Destroy Your Business Later

A man who avoided public disclosure of his federal conviction is now paying the price. Ten years after prison, a competitor exposed his past to clients, costing him contracts and credibility. He once told us, "I didn't think anyone would find out—there was no DOJ press release." But silence isn't strategy; it's a time bomb. Disclosure, even when uncomfortable, builds trust and control. This story proves it: if you've got a federal record, the risk of staying quiet is bigger than the hit of being honest. Join our weekly webinar every Tuesday at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern to learn more.

Why Some People Waste Their Federal Prison Experience

Sixteen years ago, I spent my first full day in a halfway house. One guy there, a former pharmacist, walked around quoting philosophers, yet couldn't face the one truth that mattered: he never took responsibility for his crime. He said he did "nothing wrong"—just like the many defendants who still call me today blaming Trump, Pelosi, or anyone else but themselves. That mindset guarantees failure. He later violated probation. The lesson? Quoting Nietzsche won't help if you're still lying to yourself. If you're ready to stop wasting time and start rebuilding, join our weekly webinar every Tuesday at 11AM Pacific / 2PM Eastern.