Larry Levine: Difference between revisions
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'''Larry Jay Levine''' (born July 1, 1961) is an American federal prison consultant and founder of Wall Street Prison Consultants.<ref name="wspc-bio">Wall Street Prison Consultants, "Larry Levine Bio," accessed November 2025, https://wallstreetprisonconsultants.com/larry-levine-bio/.</ref> Levine served ten years in federal custody across 11 different federal correctional institutions after being convicted in 1999 on conspiracy charges related to narcotics trafficking, securities fraud, obstruction of justice, racketeering, and possession of automatic weapons.<ref name="peoplepill">PeoplePill, "Larry Jay Levine: American prison consultant (1961-)," accessed November 2025, https://peoplepill.com/i/larry-jay-levine.</ref> | '''Larry Jay Levine''' (born July 1, 1961) is an American federal [[Prison_Consultants|prison consultant]] and founder of Wall Street Prison Consultants.<ref name="wspc-bio">Wall Street Prison Consultants, "Larry Levine Bio," accessed November 2025, https://wallstreetprisonconsultants.com/larry-levine-bio/.</ref> Levine served ten years in federal custody across 11 different federal correctional institutions after being convicted in 1999 on conspiracy charges related to narcotics trafficking, securities fraud, obstruction of justice, racketeering, and possession of automatic weapons.<ref name="peoplepill">PeoplePill, "Larry Jay Levine: American prison consultant (1961-)," accessed November 2025, https://peoplepill.com/i/larry-jay-levine.</ref> | ||
During his incarceration, Levine became a self-taught expert in federal criminal law and filed a class action habeas corpus lawsuit against the Bureau of Prisons that resulted in over 100 inmates being transferred to lower security facilities.<ref name="wspc-bio" /> Upon his release in April 2007, Levine founded Wall Street Prison Consultants and has since become one of the most frequently quoted prison consultants in national media, appearing on CNN, Fox News, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, Bloomberg, and Court TV.<ref name="wspc-bio" /> | During his incarceration, Levine became a self-taught expert in federal criminal law and filed a class action habeas corpus lawsuit against the Bureau of Prisons that resulted in over 100 inmates being transferred to lower security facilities.<ref name="wspc-bio" /> Upon his release in April 2007, Levine founded Wall Street Prison Consultants and has since become one of the most frequently quoted prison consultants in national media, appearing on CNN, Fox News, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, Bloomberg, and Court TV.<ref name="wspc-bio" /> | ||
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* '''Program Statement''' is a Bureau of Prisons policy document that establishes rules and procedures for federal prison operations.<ref name="throomers" /> | * '''Program Statement''' is a Bureau of Prisons policy document that establishes rules and procedures for federal prison operations.<ref name="throomers" /> | ||
* '''RDAP (Residential Drug Abuse Program)''' is a Bureau of Prisons treatment program that can provide eligible inmates with up to one year off their sentence upon successful completion.<ref name="wspc-bio" /> | * '''[[Residential_Drug_Abuse_Program_(RDAP)|RDAP]] (Residential Drug Abuse Program)''' is a Bureau of Prisons treatment program that can provide eligible inmates with up to one year off their sentence upon successful completion.<ref name="wspc-bio" /> | ||
* '''Second Chance Act''' is federal legislation that expanded early release options for federal inmates through increased halfway house time and home confinement.<ref name="wspc-bio" /> | * '''Second Chance Act''' is federal legislation that expanded early release options for federal inmates through increased halfway house time and home confinement.<ref name="wspc-bio" /> | ||
Revision as of 18:30, 20 November 2025
Larry Jay Levine (born July 1, 1961) is an American federal prison consultant and founder of Wall Street Prison Consultants.[1] Levine served ten years in federal custody across 11 different federal correctional institutions after being convicted in 1999 on conspiracy charges related to narcotics trafficking, securities fraud, obstruction of justice, racketeering, and possession of automatic weapons.[2]
During his incarceration, Levine became a self-taught expert in federal criminal law and filed a class action habeas corpus lawsuit against the Bureau of Prisons that resulted in over 100 inmates being transferred to lower security facilities.[1] Upon his release in April 2007, Levine founded Wall Street Prison Consultants and has since become one of the most frequently quoted prison consultants in national media, appearing on CNN, Fox News, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, Bloomberg, and Court TV.[1]
Early Life and Career
Larry Jay Levine was born on July 1, 1961.[2] Before his arrest, Levine worked as a private investigator operating a firm in Los Angeles, California.[1] According to federal law enforcement sources, Levine operated as an efficiency expert in California and Nevada, allegedly directing criminal operations for an East Coast organized crime family.[2]
Federal Charges and Conviction
Arrest
On August 3, 1998, Larry Levine was arrested in Northridge, California, by a U.S. Department of Justice FBI-DEA-ATF Federal Organized Crime Task Force.[2] He was charged with multiple federal crimes including racketeering, securities fraud, obstruction of justice, narcotics trafficking, and possession of automatic weapons.[1]
Following his arrest, Levine was denied bail and spent 21 months litigating his charges while held at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC).[3] During this pretrial detention, Levine began assisting fellow inmates by reviewing prosecutorial discovery for inaccuracies, researching case law, and explaining criminal defense strategies and possible sentencing departures.[3]
Conviction and Sentencing
In December 1999, Levine was convicted on conspiracy charges relating to narcotics trafficking, securities fraud, obstruction of justice, racketeering, and possession of automatic weapons.[2] On May 8, 2000, U.S. District Judge Carlos R. Moreno of the Central District of California sentenced Levine to two ten-year concurrent sentences along with one five-year concurrent sentence.[3] Judge Moreno later became a Justice on the Supreme Court of California.[2]
Levine has noted that his ex-wife wrote a letter to the court providing information about crimes that even prosecutors were unaware of, though the statute of limitations had already passed on those offenses.[4]
Incarceration
Facilities and Movement
During his ten years in federal custody, Larry Levine was incarcerated at 11 different federal correctional institutions across various security levels—high, medium, low, and minimum—in five states: California, Arizona, Texas, Nevada, and Oklahoma.[1] Levine has stated that his frequent transfers were largely due to his activities helping fellow inmates with legal work and challenging Bureau of Prisons policies.[5]
In 2005, Levine was incarcerated at the Nellis Federal Prison Camp on Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas, Nevada.[2] When Nellis was closed as a cost-cutting measure, Levine and several hundred other inmates were transferred to FCI La Tuna, a low-security federal correctional institution on the El Paso, Texas-Mexican border.[2]
Class Action Lawsuit
The transfer from minimum-security Nellis to low-security La Tuna represented a significant increase in custody classification for the affected inmates.[6] Inmates reported that the move brought them into contact with gang-affiliated prisoners and subjected them to more frequent searches and restricted movement.[6]
While at La Tuna, Levine single-handedly filed a class action habeas corpus lawsuit in U.S. District Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 against the U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Prisons.[2] The lawsuit claimed that the DOJ had violated its own policies by transferring minimum-security inmates to higher custody facilities.[1]
Due to Levine's legal action, the DOJ was forced to transfer hundreds of inmates around the country to conform to the lawsuit's claims.[2] Over 100 misclassified inmates were ultimately transferred to lower security facilities as a result of Levine's lawsuit.[1] This accomplishment caught the attention of both inmates and Bureau of Prisons staff, establishing Levine's reputation as someone willing to hold the BOP accountable.[1]
Jailhouse Legal Work
Throughout his incarceration, Levine spent significant time in prison law libraries educating himself in federal criminal law.[7] He assisted fellow inmates with various legal matters including:[1]
- Filing habeas corpus petitions
- Obtaining federal sentence reductions
- Securing medical care
- Requesting transfers to other facilities
- Obtaining job changes within institutions
- Securing additional halfway house time
- Obtaining furloughs
- Addressing visitation issues
- Dealing with BOP staff and internal policy matters
Levine has stated that his work helping inmates made him a "management problem" for prison staff and contributed to his frequent transfers between facilities.[4] He claims that prison staff told each other "do not engage this inmate, he knows policy better than you."[4]
Release and Prison Consulting Career
Founding Wall Street Prison Consultants
Larry Levine was released from federal custody in April 2007.[3] Upon his release, Levine and former inmate Holli Coulman established Wall Street Prison Consultants and Pink Lady Prison Consultants.[3] Levine has described himself as the first prison consultant and credits inmates for suggesting he turn his jailhouse legal expertise into a business.[5]
The consulting business operates under several names, including American Prison Consultants (founded October 2006), Wall Street Prison Consultants, White Collar Prison Consultants, and Pink Lady Prison Consultants.[2] In July 2009, Levine was issued a cease and desist order by the New York Stock Exchange for copyright and trademark infringement due to his use of NYSE images and references to the NYSE and crime on the Wall Street Prison Consultants website.[2]
Levine's approach emphasizes holding the Bureau of Prisons accountable to its own policies and regulations.[1] He has stated that "the BOP operates with its own very complex set of rules called 'Program Statements'" but that "prison staff routinely fail to follow them."[4]
Media Appearances
Since the Bernard Madoff scandal in 2008, Levine has become a frequently quoted expert on the federal prison system.[2] He has appeared on numerous television networks and programs including CNN, Fox News, CBS News, ABC News, MSNBC, Bloomberg, Court TV, Inside Edition, News Nation, and NewsMax.[1]
Levine also hosted a weekly radio show on LA Talk Radio with retired Federal Bureau of Prisons official Bruce Cameron called "CRIME and Punishment," and a talk show called "Street Justice with Larry Levine."[2][8]
Publications
Levine has authored books on navigating the federal prison system, including Prison Politics 101: Mastering the Art of Survival.[8] The book covers topics including prison lingo, inmate hustle economy, dealing with various prisoner types, and survival strategies.[8]
Personal Life
Larry Levine resides in Ventura, California, with his wife Leticia.[9] They have three grandchildren.[9] Levine has a dog named Hazel, a chow puppy.[9]
Levine has volunteered time writing petitions and restraining orders at the local courthouse for battered women.[9]
Terminology
This section defines key terms relevant to Larry Levine's case and federal prison consulting.[1]
- Habeas Corpus is a legal petition that allows an inmate to challenge unlawful detention or imprisonment, filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241 for federal prisoners.[2]
- Racketeering refers to criminal activity conducted as part of an organized crime enterprise, prosecuted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).[1]
- Security Level refers to the Bureau of Prisons classification system for federal facilities: minimum, low, medium, high, and administrative.[1]
- Program Statement is a Bureau of Prisons policy document that establishes rules and procedures for federal prison operations.[4]
- RDAP (Residential Drug Abuse Program) is a Bureau of Prisons treatment program that can provide eligible inmates with up to one year off their sentence upon successful completion.[1]
- Second Chance Act is federal legislation that expanded early release options for federal inmates through increased halfway house time and home confinement.[1]
- First Step Act is the 2018 federal criminal justice reform law that created earned time credits and expanded early release programs.[1]
- Designation refers to the Bureau of Prisons process of assigning an inmate to a specific federal facility.[1]
- FEDTIME 101 is Larry Levine's trademarked prison survival educational course offered through Wall Street Prison Consultants.[2]
External Links
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 Wall Street Prison Consultants, "Larry Levine Bio," accessed November 2025, https://wallstreetprisonconsultants.com/larry-levine-bio/.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 PeoplePill, "Larry Jay Levine: American prison consultant (1961-)," accessed November 2025, https://peoplepill.com/i/larry-jay-levine.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Pink Lady Prison Consultants, "Prison Consultant Larry Levine," accessed November 2025, https://pinkladyprisonconsultants.com/prison-consultant-larry-levine/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Throomers, "Larry Jay Levine: The Expert Prison Consultant," November 14, 2020, https://throomers.com/larry-jay-levine/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 NJ Spark/Medium, "'The system doesn't care about you'," April 4, 2018, https://medium.com/nj-spark/college-for-criminals-a-discussion-with-prison-expert-larry-levine-c7366782ab43.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Wall Street Prison Consultants, "Houston Chronicle," June 7, 2024, https://wallstreetprisonconsultants.com/houston-chronicle/.
- ↑ Institutional Investor, "Better Call Larry," accessed November 2025, https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/2bsxclslggn6x6wreheyo/culture/better-call-larry.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Amazon, "Prison Politics 101: Mastering the Art of Survival," accessed November 2025, https://www.amazon.com/Prison-Politics-101-Mastering-Survival/dp/B0DSSNQ582.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 White Collar Prison Consultants, "Larry Levine Bio," accessed November 2025, https://whitecollarprisonconsultants.com/larry-levine-bio/.