Today was sentencing.
The night before, I barely slept. I woke around 2 a.m. with thoughts racing—about my family, the unknowns ahead, and everything this journey has entailed. It’s been over three years since this began. On January 7, 2021, federal agents raided my home and business in a highly aggressive operation—something I will never forget. The government chose not to acknowledge the trauma caused by this event, and said it’s a civil matter and not related to the criminal case. Instead, they attempted to paint a picture that omitted the full truth of how this case unfolded.
Despite the stress of today, I’m writing this entry with a clear mind—and a steady heart. Because even though the outcome wasn’t what I had hoped, I know this isn’t the end.
It’s simply the beginning of the next chapter: the appeal phase.
The government continues to argue I am “defiant” because I exercised my constitutional right to defend myself and object to inaccurate claims in the PSR. They claimed I showed “no remorse” for maintaining my innocence on charges that were legally and factually flawed.
But accountability does not mean silent submission. I’ve accepted the outcome of the trial, but I’ve also worked to correct the record where the truth was distorted. That’s not defiance—that’s due process.
We objected to the inclusion of funds from the so-called “romance scammers” because money laundering requires knowledge that funds came from an illegal source. Each of these individuals admitted in sworn testimony that they lied to me, misrepresented themselves as professionals, and that I had no idea what they were doing. Including those amounts in the offense total is a legal overreach, plain and simple.
We also objected to the inclusion of all funds tied to Macquarie, the self-proclaimed meth dealer who gave contradictory stories. He claimed he flashed a gun on our first meeting, then later said he wasn’t sure I saw it. On the fifth meeting, he suddenly blurted out that he was a meth dealer—allegedly to assure me he wasn’t a thief. Yet the government included the entire amount from all his trades in their calculations. We objected to the inclusion of anything prior to that fifth meeting. This narrative is not only ludicrous—it’s a fabrication.
Then there’s the hollowed-out book—a dramatic piece of “evidence” the government leaned on during trial. The truth? The book came from a bulk office liquidation purchase when we acquired furniture and materials from a closing mortgage office. It sat untouched in a filing cabinet. It was never used, referenced, or hidden. Yet it became a theatrical prop for the government to imply sinister intent, with zero proof to back it up.
Another item they leaned on: storage above the office. Like many business owners managing limited space, I built an internal structure inside my garage bays to create a second-level storage area above the office. I stored plywood, cleaning supplies, and older business documents to free up room for my trucks. Yet the government insinuated that something was being “hidden” up there—without ever showing what. Again, assumptions without evidence. Perhaps the most absurd argument was when the prosecution used my contribution to Prison Professors’ Masterclass against me. I encouraged impacted individuals to learn skills and invest in education. I shared how a Bitcoin course helped me develop professionally. I didn’t mention my case, because the class wasn’t about me—it was about giving others hope. The government twisted that into a claim of “lack of remorse.”
But in truth, it was a demonstration of leadership—something I will never stop offering others.
And here’s what else today was:
It’s Bitcoin Pizza Day—a historic anniversary for the crypto community. 10,000 BTC for a pizza May 22, 2010
Bitcoin broke past $111,000—an all-time high.
I shared coffee with my wife this morning, in the comfort of our hotel room.
My children are growing into amazing young adults.
And I have a mission, a platform, and a voice that I will continue using.
I may have received a sentence of 72 months—but I am more focused than ever.
The fire inside me hasn’t dimmed. It’s been refined. I’m more disciplined, more aware, and more connected to my purpose than I’ve ever been. The fight for fairness and truth is far from over. The appeal is ahead—and so is a future I fully intend to build with clarity, intention, and unshakable belief.
We don’t fold here. We forge forward.
