I’ve read a lot of sentencing stories over the years, but when I came across the one about Dehshid “David” Nourian—a pharmacist from Texas sentenced to over 17 years for healthcare fraud—I felt a familiar pit in my stomach. Not because I knew him, but because I know what it’s like to stand in front of a federal judge and realize your life is about to change forever.
When I was sentenced in Los Angeles for violating securities laws, I had no idea what was ahead. But I knew one thing for sure: I didn’t want my worst moment to be the only thing that defined me.
That’s what this blog is about—not David Nourian’s outcome, but yours. Because no matter where you are in the process—under investigation, preparing for sentencing, or serving time—what you do next matters. I’ve seen it firsthand, not only in my own life but in the lives of the thousands of people we’ve helped at White Collar Advice.
It Starts With Ownership—Not Just Saying “I’m Sorry”
Let me be blunt: Judges don’t care that you’re sorry unless you can show them why they should believe you.
After I signed my plea agreement, I had to confront the reality of what I’d done. That meant more than just admitting guilt—it meant actually doing the work to understand how I got there. I stopped blaming other people. I stopped trying to rationalize. That shift—real accountability—is where progress begins.
Ask yourself:
- What specific decisions led me here?
- Have I actually mapped out a new path—or am I just hoping things get better?
- Would a judge believe I’ve changed based on what I’m doing today?
These aren’t easy questions. But they’re the ones that matter.
Set Goals That Mean Something
When I got to Taft Federal Prison Camp, I saw how easy it would be to drift. The routine is numbing. You see guys sleepwalk through their time—watching ESPN, walking laps, doing nothing to prepare.
I didn’t want to be one of them.
I built a plan: I journaled every day. I read books that made me think. I wrote letters of apology. I studied reentry. I mapped out what kind of business I’d build after release.
One client of ours served 21 months. He left prison with an MBA because he used his time to focus, study, and build. No excuses. Just work.
Whether you’re inside now or still waiting on sentencing, you can do the same. Define what progress looks like. Write it down. Measure it.
Show Your Work
Documentation is everything. You might think no one’s watching, but I promise you—someone always is.
When I reached the halfway house, I handed my case manager a binder with everything I’d done since the day I got indicted. That binder made a difference. It helped me get the maximum halfway house time. It helped me build credibility. And eventually, it helped me build a company.
Your journal, your letters, your coursework—it all adds up. It tells a story. And if you don’t control that story, someone else (like a prosecutor) will.
Don’t Waste the Opportunity to Learn
Yes, it’s strange to call prison an opportunity. But I mean it.
You’ve been given time—and time, when used right, is leverage. So use it. One healthcare client of ours—convicted of a similar fraud case—spent his sentence learning compliance, risk management, and ethics. He walked out ready to reenter his field with a stronger, cleaner foundation.
You don’t have to stay stuck in the role of “defendant” or “inmate.” You can become a student, a builder, a planner. But only if you treat this season as a time to grow.
Choose Your Circle Wisely
I wouldn’t be doing what I do today if I hadn’t met Michael Santos in federal prison. Michael had served over 20 years at that point. He wasn’t bitter—he was building. Writing books. Teaching. Mentoring.
He showed me that prison didn’t have to be a dead end.
Find the people who want to grow. Stay away from the complainers, the gossip, the “this is all BS” crowd. Those guys will eat up your time and your potential if you let them.
Want Redemption? Live Like It
The people we work with who earn the best outcomes—the shortest sentences, the best reentry plans, the restored careers—aren’t the ones who just say “I’ve changed.”
They’re the ones who prove it.
They show up early. They take the hard steps. They align their actions with the person they want to become. And they do it without waiting for applause.
You want to rebuild your credibility? Live in a way that shows you’re serious. That you’re not here to fake your way through sentencing but to actually do the work.
One Last Thing
Shame is real. It’ll keep you up at night. It’ll whisper that you’re ruined, that no one will ever trust you again.
That’s a lie.
What’s true is this: if you avoid the work, if you hide from the tough questions, if you go quiet—then yeah, you probably will stay stuck in the label of “felon” or “fraudster.”
But if you choose to prepare—if you document your work, define your values, surround yourself with people who push you to grow—you can build something new. Something real.
I’ve done it. Our clients are doing it. And if you’re willing to work, you can do it too.
Justin Paperny
P. S. Every Monday at 1 p.m. Pacific, we host a live webinar. You’ll hear stories, ask questions, and learn the exact strategies people use to earn better outcomes in court and in prison. Show up ready to work—it could change everything.
