White collar criminals gather to offer hope and support | Condition

Many are celebrating the rising number of white-collar lawsuits as a necessary step toward eliminating corruption and fraud in our companies and institutions, and showing leaders across America that no one is above the law. And while accountability is good, it has led to a silent crisis: a growing number of convicted individuals are struggling with the near-impossible task of rebuilding their lives.

A criminal conviction leaves a trail of devastation: convicts must restart their careers and repair their broken families, all while dealing with the financial ruin and reputational damage that comes with it. The loss of personal/professional identity and the social stigma that comes with losing a career often leaves people feeling isolated and hopeless.

Out of this hopelessness, following his own criminal conviction, Jeff Grant founded the White Collar Support Group, an online support group dedicated to those navigating the corporate justice system.

The birth of a self-help group

A successful attorney with a thriving practice in Westchester County, Grant’s life began to unravel in the early 2000s. He struggled with an opioid addiction and made a series of destructive decisions, including taking money from clients’ funds and lying on a loan application to cover mounting personal debts.

In 2004, Grant’s actions overwhelmed him and he was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering.

Despite his familiarity with the legal system in his professional life, Grant felt wrong-footed as he prepared for his time in prison, especially after being left in the hands of an unscrupulous “prison counselor” who took his money but did not promise to pay it out . This lack of resources and his personal success in implementing a 12-step program led to the creation of the White Collar Support Group, an online meeting that describes itself as “the world’s first support group for those struggling to navigate the office.” . Justice system.” It should be noted that Grant has since regained his law license.

Founded in 2016, the group has grown to host more than 1,100 justice-impacted individuals and has expanded to alternative programming, social media groups, advocacy initiatives, and now, as the group nears its 500th weekly meeting, an event called “White Collar” conference has grown.

The first white collar conference

In mid-October, Grant’s team will host the White Collar Conference, an event open to the entire justice-impacted community, including the justice-impacted community itself, family, friends, attorneys and other professionals.

The conference, which will take place virtually, will feature fireside chats and workshops on topics such as rebuilding your life after incarceration, dealing with isolation and working together as a community to achieve better outcomes.

A panel titled “Out of Isolation” presents a particularly diverse array of viewpoints, including Theranos whistleblower Erika Cheung, “Bridgegate” defendant Bill Baroni, defense attorney Elizabeth Kelley and former Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, and will talk about the way the criminal justice system can lead to isolation, no matter what side of the table you’re on.

The opening fireside chat, hosted by Nightmare Success podcast host Brent Cassity, will feature David Israel, who overcame great odds after his journey through the legal system to found GOOD PLANeT Foods, one of the largest vegan cheese companies in the United States. to establish and build.

Helping white collar criminals find a path forward

The White Collar Conference is a testament to how far Grant and his support network have come in their mission: What began as a modest effort to help white collar offenders regain their footing after incarceration has grown into a movement of sorts deals with issues dealing with the human element of the criminal justice system.

For more information about the White Collar Support Group and the White Collar Conference, visit WhiteCollarConference.com.

*The San Francisco Examiner newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.