At 33 years of age and towards the end of 2019 was considered to be when I began committing my crime. In years before, I worked in several different industries, learning various trades, and always providing customer service. In 2013 as a telecommunications technician, I was struck by a passing car while working near a residential street. In 2015 I was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Hodgkin’s/Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and after several months going through several chemotherapies and radiation, I was not cleared from the cancer. By 2016 I underwent a stem-cell transplant.
During and after that time, many things changed. I started losing control of myself, arguing with my family and friends over the most minimal things. I would take any conversation and turn it into a problem; I never looked for any sort of help to my problems. My thoughts were “I could handle this on my own”, and/or “I don’t need anyone telling me how to do things in my life”. WOW, was I wrong. I used technology to hide from my problems, to find a different route through ‘social media’. Social media became an addiction, I thought I was someone who I wasn’t. I communicated with new women each and every day, either through a dating application or social media application. That addiction became an issue, it became a curiosity, and the conversations became inappropriate, leading to what ended up being my crime. I lost total control of myself at this point and could not find a way out, was embarrassed and too prideful to ask for help.
The first week of September 2021, I sold my beloved Pearl White Harley Davidson motorcycle, fulfilling a promise to my mother that I would not own one ever again. My girlfriend of 11 years, her son and I were putting offers on homes north of us so we could start a life together, hoping things would get better in our relationship. On the second weekend of September 2021, some friends and family helped me clear my apartment condo to have our stuff ready if the offers get accepted. At this point in time, all the offers we had put in on homes were beat by other buyers, and I was moved in once again to my girlfriends home for the fifth time. Wednesday, September 15, 2021 I sat clueless for several hours uncuffed in the backseat of a white Jeep Grand Cherokee with two officers occupying the front seats. By midday I was shown a printout of a conversation I once had, and was questioned on it. I knew what I had done was wrong, but I now felt a huge weight was being lifted off my shoulders. I cooperated with the officers and respectfully provided all the information they requested. From that afternoon going forward, I became Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate 02499-506.
Since arriving at prison, my very first roommate had a Bible and would pray for the both of us. I was raised as a Catholic but never had a full relationship with God, until now. I joined the prayer groups in my unit, and also translated for those who did not speak the language of whoever was preaching. I quickly learned how to manage myself and assisted others who were in need. I was soon the one everyone went to when they needed help, translation, or just someone to hear them out. November 2, 2022 I was sentenced to 240 months and a lifetime supervision upon release. Though I was confused and heartbroken, I did not let that stop me from having a positive attitude and from pushing forward. My email access was revoked due to my situation, which cut my communication with family, friends and attorney to a minimum. I knew that if I was going to be doing this sentence, that I was going to take advantage of any and all programs available to me, especially if it could help me change my mindset and prepare for the future after release. Before even arriving at my designated prison, I had already been put on waitlists for several psychology courses and other programs.
April 28, 2023 I arrived at FCI Miami and on May 6 I began working as a clerk in the Law Library. By the following week I was moved to work in the Leisure Library in the same department and became head clerk a few days later. This is where I was able to use my organizational skills. I asked the officer about providing extra shelving, and we began relabeling, reorganizing and cleaning up every single book. The other clerks were not too happy with my decisions, but quickly realized how necessary it was to get this done as we were even being complimented by other inmates regarding the organization.
Since then I went to work in Unicor, learning to sew, and was soon promoted to a quality control position, then over to managing the factory inventory. Once Chapel services started back up since being shut down due to Covid and lack of staff, I would visit the Christian and also Catholic Services. A few weeks later I became the translator for the English/Spanish Christian service. Never in my life had I stood in front of a crowd of over 30 people to speak, let alone translate, and do it using a microphone.
I am assigned to the largest housing unit here on the compound, and am grateful to have an excellent case manager and counselor. My counselor is the one assigned to give orientation to the newcomers, and I volunteered to help him with translating the orientation for the non English speakers.
After meeting several inmates in Unicor, one specific inmate referred me over to Psychology to be a part of the Inmate Suicide Watch Companion work detail. As of September 2023, I was approved by the BOP to be an Inmate Suicide Watch Companion and have sat on watch for over 6 inmates. I enjoy this work detail because I am able to be there for that person going through a tough moment in their life.
As of March 1st, 2024 I changed my work detail from Unicor to be the Head Clerk/Orderly of the Chapel and I assist for any and all religious services.
During my year of being here at FCI Miami I have successfully completed various Psychology courses, several courses in the Education Department including receiving the highest score of Platinum for the ACT Workkeys National Career Readiness Certificate and completed the 500 hour HVAC course and am now EPA 608 Certified.
If I am not studying, working, or communication with family, you can always find me going out of my way to help someone in need. Part of my daily responsibilities in which I have given myself is to assist an 88 year old inmate with pushing him in his wheelchair to the daily meals at the dining room.
I know this is a lot for a start, but I was just recently granted access to email as the case manager, Warden and Judge have found that my having access to email does not pose a risk to society and I can now let the world know how I am finding ways to better myself and updating my daily or weekly journals here, so hopefully one day soon I may have a chance to reenter society, be with my family and prove that what I did would never happen again and I will live a crime-free lifestyle.
