My name is Michael Sabatino #07933506 . I am a 48-year old man of Italian and Colombian decent that worked my whole life until the loss of my employment at the start of Covid and decided to make some wrong choices to survive. I was convicted in Miami , FL for the crimes of trafficking Narcotics and possession of a firearm in the commission of a drug crime. I was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. I am not eligible for FSA or any other incentives due to the law. Although I was convicted of what’s considered a violent gun crime, I never actually committed any actual violence.
Just stating the facts, the guns were in my home stored away from easy access. But, following the police raid, they said I was using the guns to protect the drugs. One actually had nothing to do with the other. (I was a licensed gun owner long before I ever got involved with drugs.) Among the weapons found, one was a Glock 21 with a switch. This modified firearm was illegal, adding to my counts of conviction.
I self surrendered on April 29th of 2024. I am currently incarcerated at FCI Coleman Low. Before my arrest, I was a single parent raising my daughter since she was 10 all the way till her graduating high school and going to college. I made many sacrifices to ensure that she had every chance to succeed and have a good upbringing. That is something of which I am very proud. The choice to deal drugs happened after she went away to college and I found myself unemployed and alone and in the mist of my own issues with drug addiction. It became a way to support my habit and support my lifestyle in lieu of not having a job.
Time In Prison
I’ve been in federal prison now for nearly six months, after receiving a term of incarceration for 15 years. Rehabilitation/Reentry Preparation
After my arrest , I realized that I needed to change. I voluntarily entered Banyan Drug Detox in Sebring , FL. It’s there that I became educated about the disease of addiction and that it was a life long battle with which I would have to contend. I met my future N/A sponsor Ben who was free from drugs and alcohol for 15 years. He was the initial person that gave me the inspiration and belief that in working hard and trusting in a higher power than myself I could live drug free. Upon completion of the detox I entered Banyan in-patient rehabilitation treatment center in Pompano Beach, FL where I continued therapy and learned about addiction and how to live clean. After 2 months of in-patient treatment. I went to live at a sober living halfway house, participated in Banyan out-patient meetings via zoom 4 days a week and started attending Narcotics anonymous meetings daily. Sometimes multiple meetings a day in the goal of making new ties to people who were clean and who my story would help deter from making the same mistakes I had made. I became a regular contributor to the daily meetings, reading literature and telling my story as well as talking about my struggles and cravings as well as my desire to continue to gain the right tools in my arsenal to continue to battle the disease of addiction. I worked the N/A 12 step program with Ben and developed a close bond with him and the N/A community in Fort Lauderdale , FL. Because of this work, I stayed clean during the whole pretrial portion of my case. I also did not commit any infractions while on release before sentencing. Eventually the day came for me to self surrender to Coleman Low Prison.
Although nothing could have prepared me for the life I was about to start to live as a federal prisoner, I found the courage to face my fears and embark on learning about the intricacies and daily life in prison. i quickly realized that the best course of action for me to continue to stay clean would be to find productive things to do and to stay busy and establish a daily routine . this is the best way to steer away from the trouble that is brewing behind every corner. so i built a routine that included walking daily , reading , finding my higher power and trusting that if I stayed clean I would be ok during this hard journey. I was approached one day by the case manager’s assistant orderly and asked to translate for one of the Spanish speaking inmates. it was then that i asked the case manager that if he needed someone to assist with this that I would be glad to do so whenever he needed. not knowing that his orderly would be leaving to halfway house in a couple of weeks, I was offered a full time job as his assistant . I gladly accepted as it was a great way to help other inmates and stay productive with my time I currently am the case managers unit orderly and help him daily.
That the best course of action for me to continue to stay clean would be to find productive things to do and to stay busy and establish a daily routine . this is the best way to steer away from the trouble that is brewing behind every corner. so i built a routine that included walking daily , reading , finding my higher power and trusting that if I stayed clean I would be ok during this hard journey. I was approached one day by the case manager’s assistant orderly and asked to translate for one of the Spanish speaking inmates. it was then that i asked the case manager that if he needed someone to assist with this that I would be glad to do so whenever he needed. not knowing that his orderly would be leaving to halfway house in a couple of weeks, I was offered a full time job as his assistant . I gladly accepted as it was a great way to help other inmates and stay productive with my time . I currently am the case managers unit orderly and help him daily.
I also completed a drug course here at the prison to fortify what I had already learned thru n/a and treatment. I have signed up for an electrician course and an energy course as well as a weight loss and fitness class . To address the need for spiritual development and the need to connect more with my higher power, I realized that I needed to explore more about my self and ego and what drove me to make those horrible life choices in the street. I am currently doing a few different correspondence courses. im working a Buddhist Meditation course called Turning the Mind into an Ally with ( Rantna Peace Initiative). Also a course with Syda Yoga Foundation called “in Search of Self.” i have also reached out to several other foundations that provide coursework and free literature for incarcerated individuals. I have fully embarked on a journey to build compassion and to rid myself of false ego driven mindsets. I am growing more and more each day towards becoming rehabilitated in mind , body and soul and to break the cycle of suffering and taming my mind to be ever mindful and aware in my daily actions. although the prison environment is one of repression and control, I have found several individuals that are really concerned in helping others and guiding them towards success. I have found this to be something I can relate to directly from my experience as a Father. I have taken it upon myself to try and be a positive influence on some of the younger inmates and show them that there are other outlets instead of drugs and violence in prison. I am still doing N/A coursework and working with my sponsor thru the mail, and I am in contact with him regularly.
I am planning on continuing to do courses here in prison and reaching out to several groups to try and get course work that I can start doing to further my knowledge of Networking , Information Technology , Cyber Security , and Telecommunications . Which i have prior work experience in. I also am interested in continuing to help other addicts with their recovery and to inspire them with my story of how one can live traveling on a brighter path.
I hope to one day redeem myself in the eyes of society and earn my freedom as I greatly wish to be a positive part of the community and return to being with my Family who needs me and I miss so much . Until that day I am commited to work hard everyday to become a better version of myself , to shed the mindset and ego that brought me to my loss of freedom and to focus on becoming a come commpasionate , helpful and inspirational to those around me.
Michael Sabatino #07933506
