September 2, 2020, was one of the hardest days of my life. That was the day I had to leave my wife and two sons to surrender and begin serving my sentence at the camp at (then) AUSP Thomson. First and foremost, I am a family man. My family means the world to me and to be faced with how I was causing them pain due to my poor decisions was difficult to bear as I made the trip from my home in Evanston, IL to Thomson with my father. I have tried to be the best husband, dad, son, brother, and uncle that I could be. I have been of service to those suffering from addiction during my 28 years in recovery. And I have given back to my community, pooring volunteer time and resources into a campaign to revitalize and renovate a golf course and green space called Canal Shores. In spite of the many missteps I have made in my life, I have consciously tried to do more good than harm. For more than 20 years, I worked as a brand and business manager in various segments of the consumer products industry. Most of my career was spent working alongside serial entrepreneurs, complementing their aspirations and drive with steady leadership and operational effectiveness. It was my reputation for integrity and professionalism that led to my recruitment to provide transitional consulting services to two men I had known for years. I did the required work in good faith over 90 days and was paid handsomely for it. Representations were made to me about the legality of the business and its products, which contained an unscheduled synthetic cannabinoid. The government saw it differently. I was indicted under the Analogue Act as a part of a conspiracy. My wife and I navigated the legal process as well as we could, deciding to go to trial. I had my day in court, and I lost. I made a commitment to my family the day I surrendered to work hard every day to grow stronger in body, mind, and spirit. I have kept that commitment while also strengthening my relationships with my loved ones. I have also tried to make the camp a better place for the men who live here in ways big and small, in spite of bureaucratic and cultural push-back. During my journey through the legal system I have been challenged, I have grown as a human being, and I have shared my experience with my friends and family. I now own the poor decisions I made that put me in harm’s way, leading to collateral consequences for those who I care about, and who care about me. The system’s many flaws were not the first cause of my predicament. I was. That being fully recognized, it is my hope that more Americans will realize that while it is fair to demand that those who are convicted of crimes do better with their choices and lives, it is equally fair to demand that citizens in what is supposed to be an enlightened society do better with their system of justice.
