contributed photo
My CLP cohort ran from September 2019 through May 2020. Normally, everyone shares ‘their story’ at some point. I knew mine was long, and I was trying to figure out when the opportunity would present itself. I figured worst-case scenario, I would share my story on the final retreat. But because of the pandemic, we could not meet in person, and it was not possible for my whole cohort to be together for our online, virtual closing retreat.
I did not share my story then. But today, here, I will. And it’s sad to say, my story is all too common for people of color in the United States.
Twenty years ago – in early 2001 – I was 29 years old. I gave my life to Christ and left behind a street life of selling drugs. I had over 900 of my 1500 hours completed in cosmetology school to get my barber’s license, and was looking for a job in the meantime. I was working hard to get my life on track.
But instead of completing my hours and license and getting a job, on June 12 of that year, I was arrested and incarcerated – for what would turn out to be the next 14 years of my life.
I knew there was a possibility of an indictment because it was revealed in a raid that there was an on-going investigation. I was a first-time offender, held without bond because of pending state charges. I was charged in the federal system with numerous counts – drugs, conspiracy, and some violence.
I had no idea how things worked; it was overwhelming. Right away I was introduced to a book called Busted by the Feds: The Book for Defendants Facing Federal Prosecution. It explained the racial sentencing disparities, including the 100:1 ratio for drug-related cases. Crack or base cocaine was predominantly sold by black and brown people, and cocaine powder was predominantly sold by whites. For charges and sentencing outcomes, one gram of crack cocaine or cocaine base was equivalent to one hundred grams of powder cocaine.
It also explained how judges were tied to mandatory minimum sentences and sentencing guidelines, passed at the end of the Clinton presidency and an extension of Nixon’s and Reagan’s “war on drugs.”
In the federal system, there is a 90% conviction rate. It is so high because of the enormous amount of pressure to plead out or corroborate. Imagine yourself in a “United States versus you” situation. Most people plead out because of the high stakes. If you fight and go to trial, you are going to get the book thrown at you. Most people don’t fight. Prosecutors strategically build their cases so that charges trigger the mandatory minimums.
My lawyer said best case scenario, if I pled out, he could get me 15 years on a plea deal. What he failed to say was that even if I plead out, prosecutors can add “enhancements” at the last minute, during sentencing, that results in more time. I did not see that coming and neither did my lawyer, a “public defender” who was not prepared. Sentences are often increased like this, higher than what carefully negotiated plea agreements designate.
So, two years after my arrest and indictments, being denied bond twice, we went to trial, and we lost.
After trial, a probation officer gives the judge a sentence recommendation report. Even though I was a first-time offender, the recommendation to the judge in my case was a life sentence.
On May 12, 2003, I was scheduled for sentencing. My lawyer came to see me in the holding cell before court, and told me that the judge called him the night before. She said she was not giving me the life sentence, and my sentencing was rescheduled for October.
If it had not been for the grace of God touching the judge’s heart, I would probably still be in prison right now.
The pre-sentencing report included a seven-point enhancement to my base offense level: three points for a leadership role, two points for a gun, and two points for obstruction of justice. At sentencing, the judge ruled that the leadership role and obstruction of justice were not established during the trial; and since I was found guilty on a charge related to the gun, I could not also be enhanced.
Instead of life, I got a 30-year sentence and was sent to a medium-security facility in Otisville, New York. You may have heard of it from the movie Blow with Boston George.
I was just three years into my Christian journey, believing in God for something greater, and looking for purpose in the present. To my surprise, I found a community in Otisville of like-minded believers, and the experience made all my reading and studying come to life.
My Pastor told me to read the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. It is a story about a young man called by God to be a leader, but his journey to that reality was through betrayal; he was left for dead, sold into slavery, accused of rape, and imprisoned. Joseph remained faithful to God without wavering or resenting God for the path his life took. It was roughly a thirteen-year process before Joseph was appointed second-in-command of the greatest nation of all time. He was completely innocent, and continued to serve in excellence – never denouncing God.
I was far from innocent, but the story was always a place of encouragement for me, seeing all of the characteristics Joseph displayed. Though my story is not rooted in innocence, it was a path of character development. Prison became a place for my leadership to emerge and flourish. Unbelievably, in the Otisville community of believers, opportunities to serve were given to me and I became a part of a thriving community of believers.
Four years later, I was moved to a minimum-security facility where there was even more opportunity for service, including because guys would self-surrender there straight from the street. We knew it was vital to help them manage the transition.
In both places, we developed outreach campaigns to reach the loss; had prayer intercession with community volunteers that resulted in powerful testimonies of answered prayers; developed a campaign of generosity that collected essential items for new arrivals; mediated hostile situations to prevent harm coming to one or more people; and offered guidance and encouragement in difficult times – a death in the family, someone sick.
We gathered groups to offer community, prayer, and sharing testimonies. Some would go their own way afterwards, but many would stay connected. The chaplain organized programs that helped us prepare for our return to society. He put together trained volunteers to facilitate groups to challenge our perspectives, promote reflection, provide healing and renewal.
As I was healing from my own life issues, God was preparing me to be an instrument in helping others.
I received two sentencing reductions. First, in 2006 because of changes in the law that made mandatory sentencing guidelines unconstitutional. Second, on my direct appeal in 2010 which ordered re-sentencing – to allow the sentencing judge to consider changes to the law during the Obama Administration, addressing the 100:1 ratio in powder:crack cocaine sentencing disparities.
Four years later, with 14 years in, I came home on a Habeas Corpus motion which called for my immediate release in 2015. The judge stipulated I spend four months of transition in a ‘halfway house.’
During my time in the halfway house, I participated in a training program offered for medical billing and coding. I got two certifications – one in coding, one in auditing. But because of my record, I was unable to get a job. There is funding to get people trained and certified, to make us employable, but there is no guarantee of employment. After three years of trying, I gave up renewing my certifications because without any experience, my knowledge was borderline outdated. I drove Uber, and landed an independent contract to drive people to their medical appointments. I enjoyed it, but when I had to renew my credentials, my record came up and they cancelled my contract.
I was expecting obstacles to getting jobs – I did not think it would be that bad, but I was mentally prepared for it. What did surprise me, was being denied life insurance because of my felony record. I was convicted in 2003. Fifteen years later, I was denied life insurance. It was sad and shocking; I was speechless and mad.
I pushed on and did not let it stop me, but it has an emotional and mental impact. I keep thinking, if I’m going through this as a first-time felon, I can’t imagine what people who have been labelled so-called “career criminals” have to face in this unforgiving world.
Despite these challenges, my faith has continued to be my anchor. I have been offered leadership opportunities to oversee a few different ministry departments and programs, including one to help individuals and families deal with incarceration. I got married, and now have a beautiful, blended family. I am back in school working towards my bachelor’s degree. God has been good to me in ways that the world has not. I spent those 14 years preparing myself to be a vessel on this side, and to come home and do what God called me to do.
I found peace in the forgiveness I received as a Christian, because it is the heart of God’s message. The Bible is a whole redemptive story, from Genesis to Revelations. As a believer, I spent many times in prayer asking God to forgive me. I even had a dream while incarcerated – in the dream I was speaking to someone, and they gave me a Scripture to read in the Bible – Psalms 32:18.
When I woke up, I went to look for it in my Bible. I went to the book and the chapter, but no Psalms 32:18. It did not make sense, it was not there. I shared the dream with one of my brothers and he said, maybe it was Psalms 32:1-8, one through eight. When I went back and read 1-8, it made sense. The night before, I was praying about forgiveness of my sins, confessing to the Lord. When I read the text, it was sharing that I was forgiven.
From that point forward, I did not harp on my past; God had forgiven me. I forgave people who wronged me along the way, people I considered friends and even family members who testified against me. Even coming home and crossing paths with some, they’re not sure how I’m going to receive them. But I let them know all of that is behind me, it has been a process. A good process – lots of healing, lots of light being shown.
From the moment I gave my life to Christ in 2001, the Church received me like I was a baby left on the doorstep. They took me right in. I became family to them, and they became family to me. They showed me the love of God in a way that was overwhelming. That experience is what kept me on the path and encouraged me to continue to pursue all that God has for me.
That is the path that I am on now. Going to school – studying Psychology, Counseling, and Mental Health, and working in an internship that gives support to dads. I graduate next year; I want to go right into grad school for Marriage and Family Therapy. My heart is for families – especially in black and brown communities, where there is a lot of brokenness in our households.
My vision is for community; and we cannot have vibrant and thriving communities until we have solid and healthy family structures. I want to help families stay together as much as possible and give them the supports they need to be able to navigate the challenges that life throws at them. I want to help them have healthy communications through those difficulties. For those families that are broken or blended, I want to give them resources and help them navigate what they are going through.
This is all a part of God’s plan for my life. I am now a vessel restoring communities one family at a time, no longer an instrument for their destruction. April 22 made six years home for me. I am grateful, blessed, and full of hope for a better tomorrow.
To reach David directly: db41501@gmail.com
Thank you brother for the power of sharing a very important story of our country.
what structed me is your connection with God during your life and your willingness of healing.
Thank you!!
Arturo Iriarte
Cohort 10
I appreciate your observation, my connection to God produced the healing.
Dave I Loved your Testimony!!! I sent an email…
A great testimony, brother. I shared it to my network and it’s getting great reviews.
Thanks for sharing
God bless you Cuz, I am so proud of what he is doing in your life. The best is yet to come. Doors may have been closed by God to get you where he has you now. Be ready for the open door with his hand on it. Love you!!!
Thanks for the encouragement cuz
A forgiving heart, strength and the power of the Lord has brought you through this my brother. Your testimony is so powerful in so many ways. I am happy you have shared your life story with others, praying that your story give our black and brown community some knowledge and understanding of what you have been through to get you here. God is not through with you yet.
Thank you for sharing your story, I pray that it will help many others..31 years ago, your Friendship saved my Life❤️ Thank You…I am forever grateful! Blessings to you.
Love you Dave! Thank you for sharing your story, God isn’t through with you yet????????????????????????????????????????????????
Thank you so much for your testimony. We need more men like you in this world David. May God continue to bless you and your beautiful family. I love you cousin.
David, thank you for sharing such a powerful story and reminder of how good God is all the time. Your journey makes me think about my son who continues to walk in Faith that our Father in Heaven will never leave us or forsake us. Your Heart and Spirit is special and if there is anything I can do to support your journey don’t hesitate to ask and I will feel blessed in doing so. God speed
Appreciate you!
Awesome. I’d like to network
We can that, send me an email.
Awesome testimony. It has been a blessing knowing you. I see your dedication and commitment to helping others. God has truly shined His face upon you. Let your light continue to shine and encourage others. ????????????
David, I never knew any of this! You were always the quite type to me. Your story and testimony “blew me away!” Powerful, very powerful. Thank you for blessing me by sharing it. Michael “Shaft” Ross… <3