What Clients Say

Our son was incarcerated for bank and wire fraud and, out of many attorneys and consultants that our son had engaged, prior to and after sentencing, Sam Mangel and his firm were the only ones who offered and delivered prompt and tangible results. Sam and his associates helped our son with a sentence reduction and with securing an assignment to a Federal Prison Camp, as opposed to a Federal Prison.

My lawyer put me in touch with Sam, and I understood right away why. From the start, he was friendly and open. He explained how to get the designation, suggested things I could do to improve the results, and helped me get my family ready for what was to come.

He took the time to deeply understand my husband’s case (maybe even better than the lawyer did). Sam’s knowledge of sentence mitigation, the prison system, and programs like FSA and RDAP was SO helpful, because there are so many websites that over-complicate matters. […] He explained what we should expect, how we could communicate while my husband was incarcerated, helped arrange visitation, and even helped us understand the emotional impact prison visitation would have on our family.

The federal legal system was a foreign world to me, and the fear of losing my medical license, my career, and time with my family was devastating. […] He walked me through every step of the process, helping me prepare for sentencing and getting me into programs that ultimately reduced my sentence. But more than that, Sam was there for my family. He made sure my wife and kids understood what was happening and reassured them at every stage.

Sam and his team were outstanding in helping me shape my story for the judge. They immediately set to work preparing me for my pre-sentence interview. Sam was incredibly dedicated, spending countless hours on calls and Zoom sessions to ensure I was ready.

I am immensely grateful for the assistance I received from Sam, which was crucial in my early release from probation. He patiently addressed all my concerns and meticulously answered my questions, ensuring I was comfortable and informed throughout the process. Before filing the motion, Sam cleared all my doubts.

He understood the intricacies of federal sentencing and prison placement better than anyone I had spoken to. He developed a comprehensive plan to help with sentence mitigation, and his involvement in my case (literally) saved two years of my life.

For families unfamiliar with the courts and incarceration, Sam's thoughtful, compassionate voice provides important guidance that diminishes the fear and confusion associated with imprisonment. He's a skilled, educated listener who's available to his clients 24/7. I endorse Sam Mangel, without reservation, to help convicted persons and their families trying to make sense of a world hidden from the general public.

I was shocked when I found out that my partner was going to jail federally. A lot of people gave their thoughts, but most of them weren’t very useful. In the middle of all the noise, Sam Mangel made things clear. He told me what to expect, what my choices were, and how to get ready in the best way.

I was extremely lost, confused and needed help writing my allocation and understanding everything about my sentencing hearing. Sam text me back immediately, he was so helpful. He gave me an example, told me the very 3 important things I should ask the judge, and helped me write out my letter to the judge FOR FREE.

From the very first conversation, he was clear, straightforward, and didn’t sugarcoat the situation, exactly what I needed. But he also provided solutions I hadn’t considered.

Going up against the federal legal system can be a daunting and scary prospect. [Sam’s] breadth of experience and knowledge of the inner workings of the criminal justice system are invaluable tools that help achieve positive outcomes.

I have been representing clients facing federal charges for over two decades. In all of my years practicing and representing nearly two hundred white collar offenders, I never considered using a prison consultant. I simply felt that they were out for my clients money and were too transactional. That is until I met Sam Mangel. […] But what really amazed me was how he prepared him for his pre-sentence interview. […] He flew here and met with our client and his family, then took at least two hours to sit in our conference room and do a mock pre-sentence interview with him. I’ve never had a client so well prepared.

I’m a criminal defense attorney who has referred two clients to Sam for post-sentencing work in an attempt to minimize the time away from their families. Both are now home earlier than they would have been otherwise. Both of them told me that they really appreciate that Sam listens. He and his team will sit on the phone with a spouse, asking about the kids and that sort of thing.

I work at a law firm in Connecticut that handles white collar defense cases and Sam Mangel has become an integral part to our client services operation. While our attorneys handle the case from indictment to sentencing, Mangel comes in and helps prepare our clients for sentencing to re-entry, or the BOP part of a person’s journey. […] I’ve now seen Sam work with 5 different cases and he has, 100% of the time, brought a sense of calm and peace to our clients and their families.

I could have received 110 months but thanks to the help preparing for sentencing, the judge gave me 41 months which I took full responsibility and accepted my sentence with a thank you your honor. Once in the Duluth Camp, I did everything you taught me, including qualified/completed RDAP, which I would have not known about had your organization not told me about. With all the programs you prepared me for such as RDAP, good behavior, and the First Step Act I was able to go to a halfway house after 13 months.

He walked us through the PSR report and took over our character reference letter effort so that they could really make a big difference. His team gave each writer a specific lane. […] He squashed three letters that were beautiful but wouldn’t have helped with the judge (who is the only person that really matters in this process!). […] Sam also helped with making sure that my husband was placed in the right facility for his heart condition and helped make sure that the facility was aware of his medications/medical needs.

He sat with me separately from my husband and walked me through what to expect. How to talk to the kids. How to handle finances while my husband was away. How to set up commissary. Things I never would have thought to ask about. […] He answered my calls on weekends. He checked in after surrender. He helped me understand the visiting process and how to keep our family connected.

As a physician, I never imagined I’d one day be facing federal charges for Medicaid fraud. […] Sam didn’t sugarcoat anything. He laid out the reality of my situation with clarity and compassion, the same way that I have always tried to do with my patients. […] From understanding what to expect at sentencing, to walking me through prison designation and the day-to-day realities of federal custody, he was there every step of the way.

If you want someone who is going to hold your hand and tell you its all going to be fine no matter what Sam isn’t that guy. If you want the truth and a real plan to deal with it, he’s exactly who you need.

I talked to a few other prison consultants before hiring Sam, and I can tell you, there’s no comparison. Most of them felt like used car salesmen, promising the world without actually offering any real help. Sam, on the other hand, was real, straightforward, and completely focused on getting results. He helped me understand how to manage my time inside, what programs could reduce my sentence, and how to protect my reputation once I got out.