Larry Levine

Larry Jay Levine
Born:	1957 Los Angeles, California
Charges:	Securities fraud, Racketeering, Obstruction of justice, Narcotics trafficking
Sentence:	10 years
Facility:	Multiple federal facilities (11 total)
Status:	Released

Larry Jay Levine (born circa 1957) is an American federal prison consultant and founder of Wall Street Prison Consultants who served ten years in federal custody across eleven different federal facilities for crimes including securities fraud, racketeering, obstruction of justice, and narcotics trafficking. A former private investigator based in Los Angeles, Levine was arrested by a Federal Organized Crime Task Force and spent a decade navigating the federal prison system before his release in April 2007. While still incarcerated, Levine conceived the idea for Wall Street Prison Consultants, conducting informal focus groups with fellow inmates to identify the information and guidance that defendants most needed when entering federal custody.

Post-release, Levine has built one of the most prominent prison consulting practices in the country, assisting defendants and appearing regularly on major news networks as an expert on federal incarceration.

Summary

Larry Levine's transformation from federal inmate to nationally recognized prison consultant represents one of the most successful reinventions in the prison consulting industry. His decade in federal custody, while serving sentences for serious crimes, became the foundation for a career helping others navigate the same system that had held him. Unlike many prison consultants who served relatively brief sentences at minimum-security facilities, Levine experienced the federal prison system at virtually every security level across eleven different institutions, giving him a breadth of knowledge that few consultants can match.

Levine claims the distinction of being "the very first prison consultant" in the modern sense of the profession—someone who provides comprehensive guidance to defendants facing federal incarceration, rather than merely offering legal advice or character references. While others may dispute this claim, there is no question that Levine was among the pioneers who transformed prison consulting from an informal practice into a recognized profession with multiple competing firms serving a growing clientele of white-collar defendants, celebrities, and others facing federal time.

One of Levine's most significant accomplishments occurred during his incarceration when he filed a federal Habeas Corpus motion challenging the security classifications of inmates at a Texas federal prison. The legal action resulted in more than 100 misclassified inmates being transferred to lower-security facilities—an achievement that demonstrated both his understanding of the Bureau of Prisons system and his willingness to use legal tools to benefit himself and other inmates.

Background

Pre-Incarceration Career

Before his federal conviction, Larry Levine worked as a private investigator in the Los Angeles area. The details of his investigation practice and how it intersected with his criminal activities have not been extensively documented in public sources. His arrest by a Federal Organized Crime Task Force suggests that his crimes were serious enough to attract coordinated federal attention.

Arrest and Charges

Levine was arrested by a Federal Organized Crime Task Force and charged with securities fraud, obstruction of justice, and racketeering. Additional charges related to narcotics trafficking were apparently included in his prosecution. The combination of charges resulted in a substantial federal sentence that would keep Levine in custody for a decade.

Prison Experience

Navigating the System

Levine served his ten-year sentence across eleven different federal facilities, experiencing the Bureau of Prisons system from multiple perspectives. This extensive institutional experience gave him firsthand knowledge of different security levels, regional variations in prison culture, and the various programs and processes that affect inmates' daily lives and potential for sentence reduction.

Legal Advocacy

One of Levine's most notable achievements during his incarceration was his successful legal action challenging inmate security classifications. While held at a federal prison in Texas, Levine filed a Habeas Corpus motion arguing that he and other inmates were improperly classified at higher security levels than their actual risk profiles warranted. The legal action succeeded, resulting in more than 100 inmates being transferred to lower-security facilities where conditions are generally less restrictive.

This achievement demonstrated Levine's understanding of Bureau of Prisons policies and his ability to use legal processes effectively—skills that would later become central to his consulting practice.

Developing the Consulting Concept

While still incarcerated, Levine began developing the concept that would become Wall Street Prison Consultants. He conducted informal focus groups with fellow inmates to identify the questions and concerns that were most pressing for people entering federal custody. What information did they wish they had known before arriving? What mistakes had they made that could have been avoided? What programs and opportunities existed that newcomers often missed?

This research formed the foundation for the comprehensive consulting services Levine would offer after his release. Unlike attorneys who could advise on legal strategy or therapists who could address psychological concerns, Levine envisioned a service that would prepare clients for the practical realities of daily life in federal prison.

Post-Release Career

Founding Wall Street Prison Consultants

Upon his release in April 2007, Levine established Wall Street Prison Consultants along with former inmate Holli Coulman, who founded the sister company Pink Lady Prison Consultants to serve female defendants. The companies offered a range of services designed to help defendants prepare for and navigate federal incarceration. Wall Street Prison Consultants provides guidance on numerous aspects of federal incarceration, including:

• Preparation for surrender and intake processing
• Selection of appropriate facility when possible
• Enrollment in sentence-reduction programs such as RDAP (Residential Drug Abuse Program)
• First Step Act benefits and eligibility
• Compassionate release applications
• General survival guidance for life inside federal prison

Media Presence

Since establishing his consulting practice, Levine has become one of the most frequently quoted experts on federal prison matters. He has appeared on CNN, Fox News, CBS News, ABC News, MSNBC, Bloomberg, Court TV, Inside Edition, NewsNation, and Newsmax, among other outlets. His commentary typically focuses on the practical aspects of federal incarceration for high-profile defendants facing sentencing or surrender.

Levine's media presence has helped establish prison consulting as a recognized profession and has raised public awareness about the realities of federal incarceration that are often invisible to those who have not experienced the system.

Published Works

Levine has authored works on prison survival, including "Prison Politics 101: Mastering the Art of Survival," which provides guidance for inmates on navigating the social hierarchies and unwritten rules of federal prison life.

Public Statements and Positions

Levine has been outspoken about the federal prison system and the challenges facing inmates. He has stated that "the system doesn't care about you," emphasizing that inmates must be proactive about understanding their rights and taking advantage of available programs rather than passively accepting whatever treatment they receive.

On the prison consulting industry, Levine has positioned himself as the field's pioneer and has been critical of competitors whom he views as less experienced or knowledgeable. He emphasizes his ten years in custody across multiple facilities as providing depth of experience that consultants with shorter or less varied incarceration histories cannot match.

On sentence reduction programs, Levine advocates strongly for inmates to take advantage of every available opportunity to reduce their time in custody. He views education about these programs as one of the most valuable services prison consultants can provide, as many inmates are unaware of options that could significantly shorten their sentences.

Terminology

• Bureau of Prisons (BOP): The federal agency responsible for administering the federal prison system.

• RDAP: Residential Drug Abuse Program, a BOP program that can result in up to 12 months of sentence reduction for qualifying inmates.

• First Step Act: Federal legislation passed in 2018 that expanded opportunities for sentence reduction through programming and good conduct.

• Security Classification: The BOP's system for assigning inmates to facilities based on their assessed risk level.

See also

• Prison Consultants
• Federal Good Time Credit Policies

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is Larry Levine?

Larry Levine is a prison consultant and founder of Wall Street Prison Consultants who served 10 years in federal prison and now helps others prepare for incarceration.

Q: What was Larry Levine convicted of?

Levine served 10 years in federal prison for securities fraud, racketeering, obstruction of justice, and narcotics trafficking.

Q: What services does Larry Levine provide?

Levine's Wall Street Prison Consultants helps clients with prison preparation, facility selection, RDAP enrollment, First Step Act benefits, and survival guidance.

Q: How many prisons has Larry Levine been to?

Levine was incarcerated at 11 different federal prisons during his 10-year sentence.

Q: Why hire a prison consultant like Larry Levine?

Prison consultants provide practical guidance based on firsthand experience, helping clients prepare properly and understand what to expect during incarceration.