Steve Oberfest
| Steve Oberfest | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Occupation: | Federal prison consultant |
| Known for: | Founder of The Prison Coach |
| Charges: | Racketeering, assault |
| Sentence: | Served about one year in federal prison |
| Status: | Released |
Steve Oberfest is an American federal prison consultant and the founder of The Prison Coach, a consulting practice he established in 2002. Born and raised in Manhattan and a former professional fighter, Oberfest started the firm after serving about a year in federal prison, and he became an early public face of the prison-consulting field through national media coverage in 2009.[1][2]
Prisonpedia Rating: Neutral
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Background
Oberfest is a New York native and former professional fighter who has also described himself as a practitioner of neuro-linguistic programming and a close-quarters-combat instructor.[1][3] He pleaded guilty to racketeering and assault charges and, at age 27, served more than a year at a federal correctional institution in upstate New York.[1][2]
The Prison Coach
Oberfest founded The Prison Coach in 2002, charging on the order of $200 an hour and working with roughly two dozen white-collar clients a year.[1] CBS News described the practice as among the first prison-consulting firms of its kind.[1] Its services emphasized physical preparation, self-defense, prison etiquette, and the unwritten rules of incarceration.[1][2]
In 2009, both CBS News and Time profiled Oberfest as public attention turned to high-profile defendants then facing prison, including Plaxico Burress and Bernard Madoff. In the CBS interview he characterized his role bluntly, saying he was "pretty much their last step into hell."[1][2]
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Steve Oberfest?
Steve Oberfest is a federal prison consultant and former professional fighter who founded The Prison Coach in 2002.
Q: What was Steve Oberfest convicted of?
He pleaded guilty to racketeering and assault charges and, at age 27, served more than a year at a federal correctional institution in upstate New York.
Q: What is The Prison Coach?
The Prison Coach is the consulting practice Oberfest founded in 2002 to advise clients on preparing for federal incarceration; CBS News described it as among the first of its kind.
Q: How much did The Prison Coach charge?
CBS News reported in 2009 that Oberfest charged on the order of $200 an hour and worked with about two dozen white-collar clients a year.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Prison Coach: "Last Step Into Hell" For $200 An Hour".Martinez, Edecio.CBS News.2009-07-31.Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "What to Expect When You're Going to Jail".Time.2009.Retrieved 2026-05-28.
- ↑ "About Us". The Prison Coach. Retrieved 2026-05-28.