Giving Back to the Community

In what ways do I give back to your community? Let me count the ways: Top-20 List

1. I provide affordable housing,

2. I cure blight when I renovate a poorly maintained house,

3. I did not cause physical harm to anyone,

4. I did not cause lasting harm to my community or society,

5. the crime rate is measurably lowered when I restore a property to its highest and best use,

6. I made my victim, the federal government, whole as soon as humanly possible,

7. the burden of senior care on the local community is reduced because I provide the care my parents need,

8. state and local municipalities are enriched through rent tax when a tenant moves into my property,

9. I provide jobs and I am a reliable source of income for my contractors, vendors and partners,

10. the local economy is enriched because my business is capital intensive and I regularly reinvest it back into the community,

11. property owners are enriched by increased home values after I complete a property renovation, and the local municipality benefits with increased property tax revenue,

12. I give to charity and tithe regularly,

13. I am dealing with my alcohol addiction,

14. I remain a pillar of the community even after I pled guilty based upon the outpouring of support I’ve received from friends, colleagues, partners, contractors, vendors, family, and clients,

15. I am confident my marriage of twenty-nine years will endure, and continue to be an example of family values for others in the community,

16. when my tenant encounters a financial hardship, even when I’m forced to evict, I waive last month rent, forgive past due fees, and I provide financial assistance at move-out; and I only garnish wages when I find severe property damage,

17. I contribute content to the prison outreach offered at ‘Earning Freedom’ for people going into the criminal justice system so they can understand the importance of self-advocacy and self-development,

18. I am able to contribute to society immediately upon my release in the event I am incarcerated,

19. I blog about my journey in the criminal justice system so others might learn from my experience,

20. I will never repeat this crime.

I am confident my actions speak louder than words, but it’s not about me. It never has been, or as Mother Teresa said, “It is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” The ‘Top-20 List’ I counted down from the top is only a reflection of the way I serve others. I have done what I can to make the federal government whole and my actions prove it, but how do I set things right with those in my community who rely on me?

Many have come to trust my judgment over the years, made a career of working with me and my companies, rely on me for affordable housing, invest hard earned money in my projects, and several depend on me for income to feed their spouse and children. I am humbled, and I take the responsibility seriously. How will I make things right with these people if I’m locked away in a federal prison?

I struggle with the knowledge that other people’s livelihood and the wellbeing of their families have already been harmed by the choices I made. I sold my business assets to pay restitution, and I had to fire everyone and evict my tenants. I could easily begin again, provide more jobs, create income opportunities for everyone I know, but I must wait on final judgment from the court. Will I be incarcerated, or given the opportunity to mend bridges?

It was embarrassing at first when I started asking for help from those I know in the community, but the outpouring of character reference letters and the forgiveness bestowed upon me from my closest associates was a gift. I am fortunate to have a wife that will wait for me, family and friends that will wait for me, colleagues that will wait for me, and partners that will wait for me; it has become a debt I can never repay, and I genuinely hope I am never able to return the favor. I would hate to see anyone I know endure a criminal investigation at the hands of the federal government.

I made good on my promise to payback everything I borrowed from the Small Business Administration (SBA) by honoring my commitment to pay restitution. I fully cooperated with the federal government, and next I await sentencing. I asked my wife to read my ‘Top-20 List’ of giving back to the community.

She actually beamed with pride. Oh, the pain is ever present, and the dread of incarceration can be overwhelming, but the little moments of joy MUST be celebrated. If I’m incarcerated, I look forward to giving back to the community upon my release. I highly recommend building relationships with people who are willing to forgive and wait for you. My marriage mitigation efforts scored a big win this week.