(sorry for the delay in posting week 8)
Since today marks my second completed month at Morgantown, the first half of this entry is a reflection of my time over the past two months and end much lighter on what transpired over the past week.
Having just finished a memoir on Dorthy Day and her inspiration for the Catholic Worker movement, I was profoundly drawn to her courageous and deliberate social criticism regarding injustices within the government that promoted the oppression of impoverished Americans, especially during the Great Depression. She had been arrested and imprisoned several times for her demonstrations and poignantly reflected in a journal that her time of meeting criminals while imprisoned drew her attention to the injustices of prison. She would visit inmates and write to many of them as Christian acts of mercy and compassion, or what she would say is just a human thing to do. She harped on the corporeal works of mercy, especially visit the imprisoned and give food to the hungry (and clothed the naked which really struck accord with me when I first arrived to prison during the blistering cold and given nothing but a t-shirt and light pants - thank you again Maria). Particularly, she held high regard for those imprisoned for following their conscience that led them to such a dire circumstances. This tone struck home for me and my situation.
While I previously shared some insights into my experience through litigation regarding "crimes" at the Archdiocese and my lack of intent coupled with nondisclosure of operating businesses, I intentionally feigned attention about my actions relating to the CARES Act's Payment Protection Program (PPP) that successfully helped struggling businesses survive the darkest period of coronavirus pandemic. My own business tremendously struggled. I legally and appropriately applied for the economic disaster funding that was initially offered in March of 2020. I had just created and opened several websites for cyberhealth resources for dogs in the beginning of 2020, and each of those businesses did not have a surviving chance to grow. Immediately, I received $3,000.00 in funding from the Small Business Administration from those original applications. Yet, the other applications were denied due to the newly passed CARES Act. Aside: While I was inappropriately charged for the $3,000.00 for the Small Business Administration's funding of my business, I conceded to acknowledge that this fund was part of a greater scheme - it actually was not a scheme to defraud. I did initially submit truthful applications for the PPP, and those applications were denied without any justification. How could this be? I followed all the instructions and had established businesses (that were legitimate) as determined by the law. Then, I read many blogs that outlined how the banks were processing the applications: a) must have at least 15 employees and b) must have loans above $300,000.00 so that they could obtain higher percent yields that the CARES Act would cover. Banks made quite a bit of money! Another aside: Google which "organization" collectively obtained the most amount of money from the CARES Act. The result may be quite surprising 🙂
Then, my conscience weighed a incredibly fateful response to those denied applications, knowing the federal government in DC was in the process of indicting me with several more charges than the ones acquitted in the Maryland trial and being told that no plea agreement would be offered ("...we are coming down on Gaughan" as one email proffered). The choice - the conscionable decision given the circumstance, I chose to manipulate the PPP process (not with the intention of receiving millions of dollars or defrauding the American tax payer or system) and create a scheme that would leave the government no choice but to extend a plea deal. The scheme that I created was actually taught to me through my experience of going to trial in Maryland. I learned how to manipulate IP addresses, leave no digital footprint, and eliminate a direct connection to any fraud. None of this was true for the accusations made against me regarding the Archdiocese of Washington, but I utilized these techniques to mask the actual online applications...everything was done online and the government did not have forensic electronic evidence against me as the main investigator revealed during his grand jury testimony. Conversely, I did learn many positive things from my overall legal experience, especially with the dedicated women and men who truly fight for justice and promote fairness in the legal system to really lock away the bad guys.
Ultimately, the plan did work, but certainly not in the calculated manner that I had anticipated. I had not anticipated that every factious application that listed 25 employees would be fulfilled by a few online applications. I had not anticipated that a dear friend, like a brother, would testify against me. But, more importantly, I utterly failed with understanding how detrimental that decision (following my conscience) would have on my family, friends, and Drew. Within days, over $2 million was deposited into legitimate bank accounts that I used for my businesses. Having undergone the horrors of a raid by the FBI, which use of excessive force should be debated in Congress and limited, and the concern of the impact that aftermath had not just on my life, but on the lives of all my family and friends, especially Drew. He endured the brunt of the travesty, which I do take full responsibility for causing all that devastation that I know has traumatic scars.
After making some calculated moves and a few undesirable choices, I plead guilty and take full responsibility for my actions. I have officially completed 2 months of incarceration the 78 month sentence imposed. Speaking with many guys here at Morgantown, I do have one of the longest sentences, even for guys that transfer here from other facilities. These two months a quite trying and certainly not worth the hurt and the fringing I caused to loved ones (family and friends). While I could appear to be a repeat offender on paper after the trial I had in Maryland and then the CARES Act application, but I was and am not. In fact, the prosecutors did know my intentions which they had acknowledged during the grand jury testimony, when federal agents were asked by jurors of my motive. They knew that I was trying to obtain a better plea deal and utilize some leverage of leniency in a very powerful system.
These past two months have been the most difficult, but I approach my time of incarceration as an opportunity to learn grow, learn, repair, rehabilitate, and better myself (honestly, not many inmates take advantage of their time to walk away from this situation a better person).
In the past week, I moved dormitories, started a job working as an electrician, and had another class in personal finance learning the ins and outs of investing as taught by Bernie Madoff...just kidding 😛 The food of the past week has been pretty routine as I had previously posted. The new dormitory, called Bates, is exceptionally clean with pristine bathrooms that are closed more time out of the day for cleaning that they are open for use. The dorm is set up quite similar to my last dorm, but each person has their own cubicle, which is about 50% larger than my last area. The cubicle is divided by 6.5 feet of cinderblock walls. Well, I am a rare exception since I am on the wait list to join the next programming cycle, I have to share a cubicle with another person on the wait list, who coincidentally is the same guy that I shared a cell with for the day that I first checked into college. He is a great guy with an good story, and we jive quite nicely together.
With regard to the electrician job, it has been going well, and I have been bonding with the 8 other guys in the unit. One guy will still leave this week, and actually lives in the Baltimore/DC area. Since we could not begin any projects without approval, we cleverly decided to roast peanuts and almonds coated in honey and peppery powder on a foil tray using some heat sources. The results were quit delicious (think of those cones that they serve at ballparks, zoos, Disney/amusement parks). I had my fill of sweet and salty nuts today! Our cooking became the talk of the facilities building and several other guys were paying unexpected visits just to try the products. Each guy had a look of surprise and amazement once they sampled the almonds and peanuts. That about sums up this entry. Thank you for letting me vent a bit and reflect on how I ended up in Morgantown two months ago!