From Conviction to Redemption: Chris' Journey through Prison and Pardon. Sharing his experiences growing up in the San Fernando Valley, getting involved with Southsiders gang, facing multiple convictions, and enduring the harsh realities of prison life. Most inspiringly, Chris recounts his path to recovery, the support he received from friends in AA, and the arduous but ultimately successful process of obtaining a pardon from the governor. This episode sheds light on the transformative power of redemption and serves as a source of hope for those looking to turn their lives around.

Join us for this raw and inspiring conversation that highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the possibility of change, no matter how dire the circumstances. How do you get pardoned? Listen to Chris's story to find out in his unique journey, and more importantly how he dealt with life after prison.

Timestamps:

00:00 Highlights

00:27 Introduction

00:57 Chris's Early Life and Influences

03:49 High School Chaos and Gang Involvement

06:15 First Major Offense and Arrest

08:05 Life in County Jail

15:20 Second Major Offense and Arrest

19:24 Life After Second Release

21:58 Struggles with Addiction

24:57 Seeking a Pardon

30:06 Life After the Pardon

37:36 Reflections and Relationships

41:43 Closing Thoughts

Thanks for listening to Criminal Code: Our Story Behind Bars podcast.

#PrisonToPardon #AddictionRecovery #LifeAfterPrison #HowToGetPardoned

In this episode of the Criminal Code Podcast, host Tony along with Sam and Sonny, welcomes Bruce McNall, the man who transformed the LA Kings and famously brought Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles. Bruce recounts his fascinating journey from his early love of ancient history and numismatics, leading to a booming business in ancient coins, to his ventures in the movie and horse business. A pivotal figure in sports history, Bruce shares intriguing anecdotes about high-stakes deals, including the acquisition of Gretzky and his astounding experience in the world of Hollywood and the racehorse industry.

The episode also delves into his dramatic fall, detailing his legal battles and eventual imprisonment. Bruce offers a raw look into his time in prison and how he managed life post-release, maintaining friendships and diving back into business. This episode is a conversation of a life filled with high-risk ventures, monumental successes, and steep declines, providing a rare look behind the scenes of Hollywood, sports, and high-value collectibles.

00:00 Intro
01:56 The Rise of a Coin Dealer
11:28 Venturing into the Horse Business
18:33 Hollywood Connections and Movie Ventures
21:16 The Gretzky Trade and Transforming the LA Kings
38:42 Expanding into Canadian Football
45:41 A Lunch with Spielberg
46:04 Hiring David to Run MGM
46:26 Financial Troubles and Rising Debt
48:43 FBI Investigation and Legal Troubles
50:34 Pleading Guilty and Prison Sentence
55:55 Life in Prison
01:12:35 Release and Rebuilding Life
01:24:27 Reflecting on Life and Future Goals
01:28:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Tony recounts his experiences in prison, focusing on the challenges and incidents within the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). The story revolves around Tony's quest to obtain and consume peanut butter as part of his dietary routine, despite prison restrictions. This leads to a series of risky exchanges for peanut butter and eventually being caught by a determined prison correctional officer. Tony discusses the consequences of this incident, including extended time in the program and the necessity of maintaining respect among fellow inmates by not revealing his supplier.

Tony has to make a choice between ratting out his peanut butter supplier or being kicked out of his RDAP program and extending his time in prison.

00:00 Intro
01:00 Welcome
03:02 Life in Morgantown Federal Corrections
08:14 The RDAP Program
12:50 Smuggling Peanut Butter
21:46 The Peanut Butter Incident
22:40 Facing the Consequences
26:17 Interrogation
29:30 Aftermath
34:22 Lessons Learned
40:06 Closing Thoughts