White Collar Advice

Whether you're a defense attorney, a criminal defendant, or someone eager to learn about sentencing, federal prison, and white-collar crime, our podcast is an excellent resource. It's never too soon or too late to begin preparing for a government investigation, and here's why: Statistics demonstrate the potentially life-altering consequences of encountering the criminal justice system. Beyond the initial indignity of an arrest or the notification of a criminal investigation, those targeted by law enforcement face additional challenges: How will this situation impact my career and earning capacity? What changes will my life undergo if I receive a federal prison sentence? How will my family members be affected by my term of confinement? In the face of such complex challenges, consulting with a competent defense attorney is crucial (please note we are not lawyers and do not offer legal advice). A skilled attorney will guide the criminal justice process and help individuals navigate these difficulties. At White Collar Advice, our dedicated team focuses on assisting those seeking to learn how to: Avoid charges or get the shortest sentence possible. Serve their sentence in a federal prison camp or a facility with the lowest possible security level. Establish meaning and confidence while in federal prison. Transition back into society and pursue a new career path. Create a record that leads to increased liberty during supervised release. Our podcast offers more than just generic information through a quick internet search. We prioritize delivering insightful and personalized content to our audience. As the host, I bring a unique perspective to the table. As a successful stockbroker at Bear Stearns and UBS, I specialized in representing professional athletes and hedge funds. My journey through the criminal justice system, including a felony conviction for securities law violations, has given me valuable insights. For an in-depth account, grab a free copy of Lessons From Prison at WhiteCollarAdvice.com. White Collar Advice has also become a trusted resource for numerous media outlets, including Dr. Phil, The New York Times, CNN, Fox News, The Washington Post, Fortune, The New York Post, BBC, ABC, and NBC. If you have questions or inquiries, please contact us at [email protected] or call 818-424-2220. I appreciate your interest in our podcast. We look forward to sharing valuable knowledge and empowering you with the information you need to navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system. Justin Paperny

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The Price I Didn’t Expect to Pay After Federal Prison 07/22/2025

STOP Saying Sean Combs Will Get Sentenced To Time Served 07/16/2025

Someone Yelled at Me for What I Said About Federal Prison 07/15/2025

National Healthcare Fraud Indictment: What One Pharmacist Wishes He Did Differently 07/14/2025

How Diddy Could Get Out Soon—or Spend Years in Prison—Former Prisoner Explains 07/10/2025

Robert Greene and the Men Who Wait 07/05/2025

Diddy’s Reality If Convicted – Former Federal Prisoner Explains 07/02/2025

Diddy’s Reality If Convicted – Former Federal Prisoner Explains Since 2009, 87 people in our community have gone to trial. Every one of them lost. It’s not a statistic I share with pride, but it’s the truth. We don’t represent people at trial. We don’t write motions. We’re not defense attorneys. But we work with people who going to trial. And since odds are they lose, including the innocent, we encourage people to prepare. Let me say it again, something I tend to do: If you’re going to trial, you better prepare for sentencing as if you’ve already lost. Conviction Isn’t the End—It’s the Beginning of Regret When the verdict comes down, most people describe the same thing: a freezing moment where everything locks in place. A physician told me it felt like his whole life collapsed into a second. That kind of mental collapse doesn’t announce itself. It just shows up. Thankfully, he had been preparing for the worst case scenario, like Jerry Lundergan did. I suspect if Diddy loses his lawyers will lean in and say what they always say: “We’ll appeal. We’re not done. This isn’t over.” Sometimes defendants believe it. Sometimes they don’t. What happens next is often worse than the verdict—regret. Regret over a deal you didn’t take. Regret that you weren’t thinking clearly six months earlier. Regret that you listened to too many people who said you’d win. I’ve seen people sentenced to 10 years who told me they would have taken three in a plea if they had a chance to go back. But there’s no going back. What Happens at MDC After the Verdict If Diddy is convicted, he’ll go back to MDC Brooklyn, but the atmosphere will be different. There’s no presumption of innocence. Staff know the outcome. So do the other prisoners. That doesn’t mean they’ll treat him differently—they already assume what’s coming. But once you’re convicted, everything shifts. You’re no longer awaiting a result. You’re awaiting a federal prison sentence. He Won’t Go to a Camp—and Maybe Not Even to a Low If convicted of what the indictment alleges—sex trafficking, drugs, and firearms—Combs is not eligible for a federal prison camp. Those convictions carry public safety factors that eliminate camp placement completely. That’s not speculation. That’s BOP policy. If he’s sentenced to more than 20 years, a low-security placement is also unlikely. That means the most likely placement is a medium-security federal prison, such as Victorville in California or Coleman in Florida. Victorville Medium houses men. It’s part of a larger complex that includes a high-security USP and a women’s camp nearby. If the penitentiary locks down, every prison on the complex—including the camp—gets locked down with it. That’s the consequence of being in a place with a long history of violence, institutional politics, and custody disruptions. Victorville offers RDAP, basic programming, and the chance to earn time credits—if you have the right documentation in your PSR. But medical care is limited. Commissary is capped. Visitation is inconsistent. And the politics of a medium are nothing like a camp. Medium vs. Low Isn’t Just a Fence Line There’s a reason violence is more common in mediums. In medium-security prisons, you’re more likely to be around people with long sentences, violent histories, or repeat federal cases. In a camp or a low, most people are within 10–20 years of release. They have a date in mind. They don’t want trouble. In a medium, that dynamic changes. Release is farther away. Time feels cheaper. People are more likely to enforce their politics. That includes racial lines, gang structures, and expectations of behavior. The idea of being left alone isn’t guaranteed. The people around Diddy will know exactly why he’s there. He won’t have to say anything. But if he walks in acting like he’s still in control, like the rules don’t apply, like he’s better than the people around him—there will be problems. If he takes the opposite approach, it’ll still be hard. But people might give him space. That’s what I learned inside. If people see you working, staying quiet, doing your job, and not complaining—they give you a break. Mitigation Still Matters After a Conviction I’ve worked with plenty of people convicted at trial who still mitigated. As I wrote earlier, Jerry Lundergan was convicted at trial and facing 63 months. He got 21. Later, he was pardoned—partly because of the documentation and advocacy he helped build while working with . If Diddy is convicted, he can still prepare for sentencing. He can still show what he will do moving forward. That means getting the PSR right. That means building a release plan, contributing to his fellow prisoners. If you’re facing federal charges and thinking about trial, ask yourself one question: What will your record show if you lose? We’ll be here. Justin Paperny /episode/index/show/whitecollaradvice/id/37256655