Scarface to Liberty

Everyone in prison shares a dream: getting out—and getting out stronger. But dreams alone won’t change outcomes. I know this from experience.

When I was just 20 years old, a movie glamorized a lifestyle that led me into a disastrous path. Most people watched Scarface for entertainment. In my case, the movie showed me fast money, power, and status. 

I took the bait. 

Though I didn’t use drugs, I started to broker cocaine deals—buy in Miami, sell in Seattle. Within months, I was deep in an enterprise that I considered profitable. I didn’t consider all the costs of my decisions, and there were many.

On August 11, 1987, when I was 23, DEA agents arrested me. Since I put the scheme together, the DOJ charged me with operating a “continuing criminal enterprise,” a crime also known as the “kingpin statute.” 

Despite knowing I was guilty, I went to trial and lost. 

The judge sentenced me to 45 years in federal prison, and parole was not an option for my case.

But the story doesn’t end there.

📚 The Books That Changed My Life

Sitting in solitary confinement, a correctional officer handed me a book about Frederick Douglass. I didn’t know who he was—but that story sparked something in me. A man born into slavery had educated himself, transformed his life, and committed to liberating others.

Next came Plato’s Republic. A story known as “The Crito” taught me about Socrates, who chose to die rather than run from the consequences of breaking a law—even one he believed was unjust. Socrates taught me a powerful principle: if I wanted dignity, I had to own my decisions and strive for something better.

That became my turning point.

🧱 Values-Based Lesson

I couldn’t undo my past. But I could shape the narrative of my future by building a deliberate plan to:

1. Pursue Education – I wrote to universities until one gave me a chance. That led to a bachelor’s degree from Mercer University, then a master’s degree from Hofstra University.
   
   
2. Contribute to Society – I wrote books, published in journals, and told stories of others in prison to amplify their voices.
   
   
3. Build a Support Network – Professors, publishers, and even my future wife came into my life because I documented my journey and stayed authentic.
   
   

🛠️ Action Steps

1. Document everything – Write your biography, book reports, daily journal, and release plan.
   
   
2. Make your time work for you – Focus on self-directed learning and growth.
   
   
3. Reject the labels – You are not an inmate. You’re a person. A citizen. A leader in training.
   
   
4. Connect with mentors – Write letters. Reach out. Someone will respond if you keep showing effort.
   
   
5. Use adversity to your advantage – Your story can be your power.
   
   

📣 Build Your Prison Professors Talent Profile

At PrisonProfessorsTalent.com, you can memorialize your journey. It’s completely free and modeled on everything I did during my 26 years in prison. Build your:

• 📖 Biography
  
  
• 📓 Journal
  
  
• 📚 Book Reports
  
  
• 📅 Release Plan
  
  
• 🧾 Testimonials
  
  

Start now. The world is watching. Let them see your transformation.

📓 Reflection Journal Prompt

What influences from your past led you to prison, and how can you transform those lessons into a pathway for success?

🔍 Sample Response: I once believed that quick money and a flashy lifestyle meant success. That illusion took everything from me. But reading about Frederick Douglass and Socrates changed how I saw myself. They endured worse—and chose to rise. That’s the path I walk now: earn trust, contribute, and help others find hope.

💬 Quote to Remember

“I don’t use the word inmate or convict. I say: I’m a man. An American. And I want to change my life.” – Michael Santos

🧠 Self-Directed Questions

1. What events or decisions shaped your path into the justice system?
   
   
2. Have you found a book that inspired you to think differently? Why?
   
   
3. How can you use education as a tool for redemption?
   
   
4. Who would support you if they could see your efforts?
   
   
5. What legacy do you want to leave—inside or beyond the prison walls?

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