In 2009, I had already served more than 21 years of my sentence and anticipated an additional four to six years before fulfilling my obligation to the Bureau of Prisons. For Carole and me, the thought of those final years brought clarity—we could finally begin to envision life after prison.
As I prepared for this next chapter, I focused intently on the career I wanted to build upon my release. During this time, I began working on a manuscript titled White Collar, a project inspired by my experiences and the many lessons I had learned while incarcerated.
The idea for White Collar was born from countless interactions with business professionals who found themselves in prison, often unexpectedly. I saw an opportunity to use their stories as a teaching tool. My goal was to help business leaders understand how certain decisions—made in the routine course of business—could lead to government investigations or even criminal prosecutions. I envisioned transforming these stories into a curriculum that would serve as the foundation for a corporate training business, aimed at educating others on how to avoid entanglements with law enforcement or prosecutors. Each new interaction I had enriched the project, sharpening its purpose.
It was during this time that I met Justin Paperny. After earning an undergraduate degree from USC, Justin began his career as a stockbroker. Like many people convicted of business-related crimes, he felt blindsided by the many changes that accompany a felony conviction. A federal judge sentenced Justin to an 18-month term, and he walked into the federal prison camp where I was confined. We met within days of his arrival, and we quickly formed a friendship.
Justin shared a perspective similar to many non-criminogenic people who entered the system. He viewed himself through the lens of his family and colleagues, as someone whose situation was an anomaly—a mistake the system would eventually correct. As we spent time together, Justin began to grasp the harsh realities of his predicament. People who built careers in the system didn’t show any concern for his personal challenges. In the eyes of stakeholders, he had broken the law, and the process moved forward with little regard for his perspective. They viewed their mission as protecting the culture of confinement, and carrying out the judge’s order. Assisting Justin or others in prison didn’t rank high on the list of priorities.
As our friendship developed, so did our discussions about the future. I shared my vision of making an impact that would open opportunities for people to earn freedom through merit. To get started, I intended to build a business dedicated to guiding others through the complexities of the criminal justice system. Since my own release was still years away, we began exploring the idea of a partnership. Together, we imagined a boutique consulting firm that would support lawyers and professionals facing the shock of criminal charges. The firm would provide strategies to help them adjust and prepare for the challenges ahead. Revenues from that firm could sustain the nonprofit work I would do.
These early conversations laid the foundation for what eventually became White Collar Advice, a business Justin launched after completing his sentence. We collaborated to create a body of work designed to support people in crisis, while also advancing a broader purpose. Revenues from Justin’s consulting services seeded the initial funding for the nonprofit work Carole and I were building. This symbiotic relationship allowed us to focus on systemic reforms—macro-level initiatives to create merit-based opportunities for people to earn freedom—while Justin worked directly with individuals on a micro level. His business also became a platform to create income opportunities for other formerly incarcerated individuals.
Justin used his leadership and influence to build support that would grow our ability to make an impact. His friends Brad Fullmer, a retired MLB player, and Julio Marcial, a program director at the California Wellness Foundation, became pivotal figures in getting our nonprofit off the ground. Their belief in our mission helped us advance our programs, which influenced legislative reform such as the First Step Act, which benefits everyone who goes through the federal prison system.
By the time Justin completed his sentence in 2010, he had laid the groundwork for a thriving business. His expertise in marketing and relationship-building propelled White Collar Advice to national prominence. He effectively leveraged social media and media outlets to spread our message, ultimately helping thousands of individuals navigate the criminal justice system. Both Carole and I are deeply grateful for our friendship and partnership with Justin. His success has not only helped countless individuals, but also provided the resources needed to advocate for systemic change.
