Sentenced

Well, it has been a couple of weeks since I was sentenced. The time approaching my sentencing was very unsettling. I prayed so hard for a favorable outcome and I also asked many of you to pray for me. Through this process, I kept telling myself, “I am blessed and that I wanted God’s will to be done.” I had done everything possible for a favorable outcome I knew to do.

The week leading up to my sentencing date was so uncomfortable because it was a culmination of a 3.5-year process coming to an end. The continuing praying for an acceptable sentence day and night was finally going to be over. I called and spoke to several pastor friends of mine during the week and tried to spend some quality time with my wife.  It had become a struggle for us to even communicate about the situation because of the unknown. I religiously attended my AA meetings throughout the week. In fact, the Friday before sentencing my AA group dedicated the Lord’s Prayer to my wife and me. I thought that was very thoughtful. I received a text the morning of sentencing and they were going to do it again. It’s amazing to me that people that are connected through an addictive substance can come together like family when one of us is in need.

Being a public official, I was facing a lot of time for the offenses I was charged with. The federal guidelines for the offenses were showing 168 to 210 months of incarceration. During this process, I was not only battling the government about the truth but also my lawyer. If I could give any advice to anyone hiring a lawyer, I would recommend you ask for references and do your homework on your selected lawyer. Just because they may be recommended doesn’t mean they are a good fit for you.

I also spent money on hiring consultants to help guide me through this process. The consultants prepared me for the journey and what to expect through the judicial system. It is funny how much a lawyer really doesn’t know about the federal system and especially about prison. These consultants all had been through the judicial system and served time in prison. They helped me compose a personal narrative that outlined to the judge who I was, my background, and my willingness to accept responsibility. This was used to combat a Presentencing Report (PSR) that the government composed of who they thought I was. For instance, there were a lot of false narratives in the PSR, and I brought them up to my lawyer and he refused to have those corrected. I also had several people write character letters for me. On the day of the sentencing, I had my wife and my cousin, Jon, speak on my behalf to the judge. To have loved ones stand up and vouch for you in such a stressful situation was humbling. Lastly, I also read an allocution statement to the judge in this case. During this process, I knew that the judge had a lot of discretion in determining my punishment, and I had no idea what to expect. I had heard horror stories of people being sentenced to long sentences s in prison, and I was terrified that the same fate would befall me.

The praying, the culmination of my working with the government, and these letters all were weighed by the judge. He gave me a 42-month sentence. This is a long sentence but a far cry from what it could have been compared to 168-210 months. I also received one year of probation. I must report to federal prison by July 7, 2023. I have not received my designated prison location yet. But I asked the judge to recommend that I be incarcerated at Montgomery Federal Prison located on Maxwell Air Force Base. It is a federal prison work camp. It is a prison where a lot of white-collar offenders go to serve their punishment. I pray I get Montgomery FPC because it is almost halfway between my wife, kids, parents, and sister.

As someone who never thought I would end up in prison, being sentenced for a white-collar crime was a surreal experience. After years of legal proceedings and uncertainty, I finally received my sentence and it was a relief to have some closure, but it was also a difficult time. When the judge finally announced my sentence, it was a mix of relief and disappointment. I was glad that the process was over, but I was also disappointed that I would be spending time in prison away from my family. However, I knew that I had to accept the consequences of my actions, and I was resolved to make the best of my situation.

The process leading up to my sentencing was a rollercoaster of emotions. From the moment I was charged, I knew that I was facing a long and difficult road ahead. It has been hard to focus on anything else, and I felt like my life was on hold. Imagine taking away everything you knew and asking to wait. A sentencing date would be established only to get pushed every 3 months or so. This occurred 12 different times making this a 3.5-year odyssey. Then have 95% of the people you thought were your friends abandon you in a time of need. It has been a lonely time in my life. But I also gained more than I lost. I gained my Jesus back. I had been astray for way too many years. I also gained my family back. I have a totally different life now that evolves around God and Family and I am happy. And those friends, they are not numerous like I thought they were but, God has replaced them with some people who are the salt of the earth.

Looking back on my experience, I realize that it was a wake-up call. I had made some bad decisions, and I had to face the consequences of those decisions. But I also learned a lot about myself and about the criminal justice system. I saw firsthand how easy it is to get caught up in white-collar crime, and how important it is to have a solid foundation in Christ and family by your side. You must be your own advocate in this situation. If you’re facing a similar situation, my advice would be to stay strong and stay focused. Reach out to friends and family for support, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. And most importantly, learn from your mistakes and use this experience as a chance to grow and improve yourself.