That Day I Was Sentenced To Federal Prison #sentencingday #federalprison #thankyoutiktok #whitecollaradvice #justinpaperny

I started early the day I was sentenced to federal prison by 330, I'd shaved, showered, had my nice suit on, and I was playing online chess with a huge water chewing tobacco in, also managed to polish off a few donuts. By six o'clock in the morning I was already at a Starbucks in downtown Los Angeles anxiously awaiting the sentencing hearing at noon. During that time I sent some emails trying to close some real estate deals. I sold real estate for more than three years I waited. I was happy in some ways to finally get sentenced to finally get some clarity around 10 o'clock in the morning I met my lawyers to review my remarks. They also handed me their final bill. At noon the sentencing hearing opened with my co-defendant getting the maximum under his police 60 months. At that point I knew I was going to get sentenced to prison. The question was how long? When I spoke I tried to express remorse and shame to the victims who were in the courtroom. The judge cut me off and said you knew that it was wrong. You turned the other way for money. Most don't get caught. You did. I need to make an example out of you and send you to prison. They'll not be for the 24 months the government wanted. I'm gonna give you 18 months. Despite all of the victims getting their money back they clapped and celebrated in the front row when I was sentenced to prison. My mother cried to the victims. I understand I empathize with them even though they got their money back they were hurt and I contributed to that. I too would probably want some real punishments so I can understand why they were celebrating and clapping. Following the sentencing hearing my lawyers asked the Department of Justice to not issue another scathing press release. They said of course we're going to issue a release. We believe it to be a deterrence and by the afternoon in the Wall Street Journal Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, all were publishing my 18-month federal prison sentence. After we left the courthouse I asked my friends and family who was so awesome to come and support me. I asked them if I could have some time alone. They said yes and for about five hours I walked through the streets of downtown Los Angeles embracing the reality that I had failed. You ever wake up and realize you're not at a point in life where you thought that you would be. My friends are getting married, building businesses, traveling. Here I am getting ready to prepare for federal prison. It's humbling and very hard. It's when I knew I really needed to make a change. You didn't hit me till I was sentenced. Here are three good things that happened the day I got sentenced to prison. One gave up chewing tobacco. I've done it once when my best friend smuggled it into a prison visit. Two gave up eating horrifically four nights a week as a defendant. It's a fat and miserable bloated slob and I'd roll through in and out burger to eat away the pain. I'll never go to in and out again online chest that I would play for 17 or 18 hours a day. I'll never play again because I attributed to that life I led before prison. That was the good thing. I finally said decisions I have made that contribute to my misery and unhappiness and ignoring my friends and family today stops. And over the last 13 or 14 years I've done a pretty good job. I could do better though as I like to say we all all works in progress. That was the day I got sentenced to prison.