Locked In with Ian Bick - I Was a Blood Inside Colorado Prisons — This Is What It Was Really Like | Alec Hackney

Starting point is 00:00:00 This episode is brought to you by Netflix. The Four Seasons is back for season two, starring Tina Faye, Will Forte, Coleman Domingo, Marco Calvani, Carrie Kenny Silver, and Erica Henningson. After a difficult year, your favorite group of friends continues their tradition of vacationing together now with a baby in tow. From the Jersey Shore to upstate New York and Italy, their getaways are sure to take unexpected turns where comedy ensues. Watch the Four Seasons May 28th, only on Netflix. This episode is brought to you by Redfin. You're listening to a podcast, which means you're probably multitasking. Maybe even scrolling home listings on Redfin, saving homes without expecting to get them.

Starting point is 00:00:42 But Redfin isn't just built for endless browsing. It's built to help you find and own a home. With agents who close twice as many deals, when you find the one, you've got a real shot at getting it. Get started at Redfin.com. Own the dream. People are full of surprises, especially when you travel together. Thankfully, Verbo is not. When you book a Verbo, you get Verbo care and 24-7 live support.

Starting point is 00:01:10 So your house doesn't surprise you like your friends might. If something's not as described or doesn't work, Verbo's there. Real people. Real support. Anytime. Book today on the Verbo app. If you know, you Verbo. Terms apply. Seeverbo.com slash trust for details.

Starting point is 00:01:27 From west side of Crenshaw, Mouthview. That's like a California. gang that gravitated, you know, to Denver. So, I mean, my section is bloods. So, I mean, that's what I've been involved in for more than 15 years. Do you remember the first crime you ever committed? It made me feel on top of the world. Like, I could still feel what it felt like the night that I caught my first big case. I caught 12 felonies that night. What do you think was the most violent thing you witnessed there during that first stay? Being white and like a black and Mexican gang, it was like, you know, like my section in Denver's Mexican bloods, but I mean,

Starting point is 00:01:56 And Plez is obviously like a black gang, you know. So I had to prove myself that much, that much more, especially in prison. Alec Hackney was just 17 years old when he went to prison for attempted murder. He spent nearly a decade behind bars, got stabbed in the head, shot on the streets, and lived as a blood inside Colorado's prison system. But today, he's a completely different man, sober, successful, and helping others rebuild their lives. This is his story.

Starting point is 00:02:26 Alec, welcome to Lockton, man. Thanks so much for coming on. Thanks for having me, man. We were saying that your 1090 Jake's look alike. That's funny. That's very funny. Shout out to 1090 Jake. Yeah, he's a good dude, man.

Starting point is 00:02:38 Yeah, I'd like to meet him sometime. Yeah, I watched a few of his videos before. Yeah, well, we'll definitely have to send him this so that way he could see his twin. Yeah, that's funny. Where are you from? I'm from Denver. That's where you came from today? Yep.

Starting point is 00:02:51 Actually, this is my first time, like, being this far east, so, you know, I've never been to New York. So we spent the last couple days, like, on Madison. and going to Sacks and just checking out Times Square and driving around, you know, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and stuff, you know, checking out some mafia spots and stuff like that. You know what I mean? Dude, we got stuck yesterday for five hours. Bro, it was a crazy, crazy flood. I was telling Matt that there's just like there was this guy walking in New Jersey and his

Starting point is 00:03:19 pants were completely soaked and he's like, don't walk under that bridge. So I guess two people died yesterday. Really? Yeah, my girl seen it on TikTok. Two people died in the flood. Yeah, I saw it. the subways getting flooded, but we were stuck dead stop traffic on the highway. I was live streaming or putting all the, we had so much content. I think I posted like 60

Starting point is 00:03:36 Snapchats just from that area. And then I was putting it on Facebook, but it was bad. We were stuck there. We were going to see the guy did the Mr. Beast video with to do his podcast. And then we just dead stop traffic. We left to 2 o'clock. We got home at 10 o'clock, never made it over there. I didn't even think about the subways. I bet they got hit. They always get hit every time. Like you see the videos of them just getting flooded with rain down it's insane people are posting from their apartments to the streets flooded it's so bad that's horrible bro that's crazy yeah um there was like we went to see the statute of liberty and we were like walking out and we had like our hoods like Kenny from south park like you know and we it was like sideways rain bro it's crazy

Starting point is 00:04:16 but we got some videos yeah statue of liberty and stuff is pretty cool i've still never been in the statue of liberty really yeah i mean we we were very far from it but at least we got to like get it on camera and stuff that's awesome to see it so tell Tell everyone about your businesses. So I own, well, three businesses, two have to do with recovery and reentry. I was looking at one of your canvases outside. It's pretty dope that quote because that's basically like our whole business model is, you know, helping people that are, you know, justice involved individuals, you know, reenter from incarceration. I focus with my one business that I own 100% of is gold standard recovery.

Starting point is 00:04:58 We focus just on one halfway house actually in the metro area. It's like south of Denver in Littleton called ACRC. And we just help basically anybody coming out from from DOC or the county jails that come there, get all their basic needs like their ID, social security card, birth certificate, get, helped them get transportation resources, employment, you know, build stability and eventually like housing and help them with parole and stuff like that. I have seven employees with that business. And then I have two employees with Empower Reentry and that's like the sober living side. So we have a 5,000 square foot house in Littleton, Colorado. It's like a southern style house.

Starting point is 00:05:39 It's very nice. And it's actually just specifically for people coming out of EOC. So there's been five people there. There's only two there right now, but it's, it has 14 bed spaces. So, I mean, if anybody's listening from Denver, they need, you know, housing that's coming out of DOC, definitely, you know. Awesome. I'll have the links in the description this episode. What was growing up in Denver like? I moved there, actually, I lived in four different states, so I lived, like, I was born in Utah, and I lived in California for a little bit. And actually, like, Nebraska. My grandma lived in Nebraska. And I moved to Colorado when I was like 12.

Starting point is 00:06:18 So, I mean, it was just, I mean, I gravitated towards the streets. I was always, you know, like in the city, just around negative influences. And I was gravitated towards that, you know, like I went to, I went to prison at a real young age. I was doing a lot of robberies. I started selling drugs when I was like 12 years old. I started selling weed. And then I just gradually, like, got deeper and deeper into it. Started selling Coke and started selling coke and started.

Starting point is 00:06:44 started selling heroin and meth and all that stuff and and uh got really deep into you know the gang life and and uh um i would front out you know i'd front out work and then you know what happened with my first case my first case was an attempted murder robbery and i was only 17 at the time but i had fronted out some some dope and uh dude never paid me back so so me and my friends were drunk and we kicked in his door and zip tied him and everything. And I got five years. I got direct filed charges an adult when I was 17. And I ended up getting, you know, I was looking at 16 to 32 years.

Starting point is 00:07:23 I ended up getting five years at YOS, which is like a youth prison in Colorado and Southern Colorado where you have to do like boot camp. So it was like heavy, you know, military style. Like they, they cape you. And you have to do like what's called like zero day like in the military where you have to work out for like, you know, six hours. straight. I actually threw up and I'm you know like it was just crazy experience with all that and I I had to do the boot camp four different times because I kept having to come back for remediation and stuff and

Starting point is 00:07:51 I got out of I got out of prison there out of the youth prison and it's like six months later I got locked up again for gun charges and it was just continuously man just for for basically 10 years in and now I did 10 years pretty much on and off so the longest I did consecutively was like like three and a half though. Why do you guys move around a lot as a child? Um, my dad got different jobs. So like, um, when I, when I lived in, when we lived in Utah, um, he worked for a company called Wintersteiger. It was like a, like a skiing company. And, uh, he just, he would just get different jobs and kind of be away like a lot. When I was a kid, like he'd be gone for like, you know, like a year at a time or like a year and a half at a time. And then we'd move and follow him. That's actually what happened.

Starting point is 00:08:40 He moved to Denver before us, so it was me and my mom and my sister, and then we, like, kind of followed him to Denver, you know. Like, so, yeah, it was just kind of like, we'd just move around all over the place. It was just, like, kind of, like, wasn't stable, you know, until I was, like, in my young teenage years, and then we moved to Colorado and just stayed, you know. Did they have good jobs? My mom worked from home. She, like, kind of sold stuff on eBay and stuff, but, I mean, it was, like, you know, like, medial. wasn't, you know, like we definitely didn't come from like crazy money or anything, but, you know, it was like medial jobs. My dad got a kind of, kind of a good job at the UP. He worked for the

Starting point is 00:09:19 Union Pacific Railroad, but it wasn't nothing crazy by all means, you know. Did your parents stay together your whole childhood? They did, but they had problems. Like they, you know, like they, they just, I mean, they tried their best to stay together, but it was kind of, you know, it was, It was a very hard relationship, you know, because he was always working and he was always on call. So he'd come home and be tired and he drank a lot. I mean, my dad, my dad drank every day, you know, he was definitely like a functioning alcoholic. So, like, he was responsible enough to like stop drinking so he could go to work. But, I mean, when he got home, he would drink and stuff.

Starting point is 00:09:56 You know what I mean? So, and I mean, he did drugs like when, you know, like in his younger years and stuff. So I think that's that is kind of what I found. out after he passed away that was one of the reasons we moved around a lot too, you know. But he definitely kept that a secret from me. I mean, he didn't, he didn't try to sit down and relate to me at all, you know, like when I went through all my drug, my drug problem, you know. Do you wish he did? Yeah, most definitely. I definitely wish I did. I wish that he did. I wish that I could have talked to him a lot more about that type of stuff because it really hurts me now that

Starting point is 00:10:29 he's gone. He passed away in 2021. So like, I wish that he would have just, that would have meant so much for him to sit down and be like, I know what you're going through because I just felt so outcasted from my family and so judged, you know, because like in my family, I'm one of the only gang members. I'm one of the only people that have been to prison. Like, I have some uncles, you know, that are into all that stuff and everything. But like, as far as like my immediate family, I was around females growing up. I was around all females. So it was just like my mom, my sister, my aunties, my grandma, my great grandma, like I grew up with all females. So I definitely felt like, you know, an outcast. Like when I started gang banging and selling drugs and stuff, I just felt like I couldn't relate to anybody in my family at all, you know?

Starting point is 00:11:11 Were you getting into trouble at all before you got to Colorado? No, not really. I mean, I guess I was kind of troubled, like when I was younger, like I would get in trouble at school a lot. Like, I would get in fights and stuff like that. But it wasn't like trouble with like the law. Like I wasn't like going outside the house because I was real young, you know, like when I lived in other states, I was like nine, ten, 11 years old. So I wasn't like, I guess I was doing stuff like that. I was like running the streets and, you know, like stealing and stuff like that, but it didn't get like

Starting point is 00:11:38 really bad until I got to Colorado and then it gradually got way worse, you know. What do you think was that trigger in Colorado that led you down that path? Being around gangs. Like I was never, I never really like lived in like a big, big city until I moved to Denver, you know? Like it was like I was like the bus system. I wasn't really like there wasn't a bus system in the other cities that I lived in. And moving from, you know, I had. I lived in Lincoln, Nebraska before we moved to Colorado. So being there, it's like really, you know, like rural area and moving to Denver is like a culture shock. Like it was like city and it was like this is where I belong, you know?

Starting point is 00:12:17 And I just felt like with, I mean, I love my family, but it felt like kind of like a broken like family unit. Like it was like I couldn't relate to anybody in my family like I said. So, you know, when I got around like the gang life, it was like this is my family. you know and I had like a distorted thought like I obviously don't think about that like that now but um I definitely saw them as family now thinking back in retrospect I definitely saw you know like all my homies is my family for sure up until a couple you know I mean I still do I still love all them you know shout out shout out all them but you know like more than probably more than 50 or 60 of them are on drugs or you know have just like made a bad name for themselves like you know became like

Starting point is 00:13:01 rats or sex fenders or what you know all the shit so that it's like, you know what I mean? What kind of gangs are in Colorado or in Denver? In Denver specifically, I mean, my section is the west side. So that's like all, you know, Colfax, which is the longest avenue in America. So it's Colfax Avenue to Federal Boulevard, up to Alameda, Alameda to Sheridan, back to Colfax. So that's like the west side of Denver. That's where I'm from.

Starting point is 00:13:27 And then there's, I mean, my neighborhood's Bloods, there's Crips, there's GKI, Serenios, North Siders, NSM, that's like north side of Denver. There's, um, Westwood Hood, there's, there's, there's like, I was telling Matt, there's like a hundred different gangs in Denver, bro. It's like, you hear of new shit all the time, too, you know? And what gang did you gravitate to? I'm from, I'm from West Side Crunchyaw Mafia. That's like a California gang that gravitated, you know, to Denver.

Starting point is 00:13:54 So, I mean, my section is bloods. So, I mean, that's what I've been involved in for more than 15 years, probably, like 18 years now. What attracted you to that? Really just being around it, seeing it. I mean, I seen, like, my older homies, like, in the low lows and stuff. And, you know, with, like, being all flamed up. And I just, I just, that's, you know, maybe it was music. I mean, there's a lot of things that just made me gravitate towards that, you know.

Starting point is 00:14:22 And it was more so, I think, if I would have been around a different section, like, if I would have hung out in a different section or been around, you know, like I stayed, there was a house that I stayed in across the street from the projects that I would, trapped from and everything that I had like a family member that lived that lived in and that's that's really why so if it would have been in a different area then maybe I would have been from somewhere else but that's just kind of you know like how it happened that's just how it played out is there something your parents could have done differently to keep you away from that life I don't I don't think so I mean I think about that a lot and I mean I feel like they were as as loving as they could be my mom did

Starting point is 00:14:58 it did as much as she could for me growing up um same I mean I could say the same about my dad like they just maybe you know like I think maybe if my dad was around a little bit more but he was always working I mean I think that I get my work ethic from him definitely you know so like now I've I've changed everything from putting all my energy into the streets to like my businesses now you know so I feel like I get my work ethic from him for sure but I'm trying not to turn into that with my kids because I'm about to have my first kid in April so I definitely don't want to like just focus on just my business like I actually want to have, you know, a relationship with my kids and not be away from them all the time and stuff, you know.

Starting point is 00:15:39 Well, congratulations. That's awesome. That's very exciting. I appreciate that a lot. Thank you. Did you finish high school or did you catch a case before finishing? So I did great in middle school. I was actually like an AP math. I was in honors math and everything. In eighth grade, I was doing like 10th grade math and stuff. But like high school, I basically dropped out at a young age. So like in, I think I went to high school for, a few months, maybe a little bit longer than that, but I didn't, I didn't finish on the streets. I really gravitated towards just making money and selling drugs and stuff. And then I was forced to go to, I was forced to go to high school in prison. So at YOS, they have like a high school

Starting point is 00:16:20 inside. It's the only high school in DOC in Colorado because Colorado has, I think, 28 or 29 male facilities and two female facilities, but they don't have any high schools. They have GED programs, but that's the only high school that's actually in DOC in Colorado is like the youth YOS. So I graduated from Century High School at YOS in Pueblo, Colorado. So that's like where my diploma is from is like from Century High School. So like if you know anything about that, that's like, you know, DOC diploma. This episode is brought to you by prize picks.

Starting point is 00:16:52 You and I make decisions every day, but on prize picks, being right can actually get you paid. Don't miss any of the excitement this sport season. Whether you're a football fan, a basketball fan, a basketball, fan or both like me, it always feels good to be right. Now, when I was the one locked in, the only fantasy lineups we had were for rec yard basketball, and trust me, nobody was picking the guy with the commissary belly. But now I get to put my sports knowledge to work the smart way with prize picks, and it's simple, just pick more or less on at least two player stats and watch your lineup come to life. This week, I'm taking Dak Prescott. More passing yards against the Raiders

Starting point is 00:17:30 defense, Dax got way too many weapons not to hit his projection. I'm also locking in Ashton Jean-D, more rushing yards because a Cowboys defense has been letting runs through all season, and this powerhouse back knows how to take advantage. And finally, Cade Cunningham, more assists with his hip injury. I see him dishing it off all game against the broken Pacers team. You can even stack players in the same lineup or follow others directly on the app. It's that easy. plus with injury reboots, if one of your players leaves early, it doesn't count against you, which is way more fair than the system I used to deal with. So don't sit on the sidelines, make your own lineup today. Download the prize picks app and use code Ian Bick to get $50 in

Starting point is 00:18:13 lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That's code Ian Bick to get $50 in lineups after your first play. Prize picks, it's good to be right. And were you living at home during your teenage years, or were you out of the house at that point? I had my own apartment. Like, I, I didn't want to break my mom's heart and stuff. So I didn't want to, like, you know, I didn't tell her some of the things that I was doing. I was only coming home, like, you know, for a few weekdays or whatever. And by the time I was 15, I mean, I would walk around with a few thousand dollars in my pocket at a time.

Starting point is 00:18:45 And I had, I had traded like an ounce of Coke every month for, for an apartment with, you know, this crack-a-chick that I knew. And I had my own apartment when I was like 15, 16 years old. So that's what really led to all this, you know. Like it was right outside the area where I got put on, like, right across the street from the projects. But it was like a little bit further, like down the hill from the gas station. So I had like my own apartment that I would trap out of. And I was really young doing a lot of these things that adults were doing. I was hanging out with adults and being influenced by adults at a really young age.

Starting point is 00:19:18 You know, like I didn't hang out with anybody my age. It was really like older, you know, like 21, 22, 23 year olds. when I was like 15, 16 years old, you know, so I was being heavily influenced and I was kind of like a, you know, now looking back, I was kind of like a, you know, like a, like get put on dummy missions and shit, you know, like it was just crazy. Like, I was very easily influenced my younger years. Do you remember the first crime you ever committed? Like heavy crime. I'd say it was probably probably like a home invasion robbery or something, you know, or robbing somebody at gunpoint.

Starting point is 00:19:55 Like, I definitely did that a lot when I was younger. But it wasn't, like, to innocent people. It was, like, somebody that I had vision, had a target on them. You know what I mean? Because they, you know, owed my homie money or they had done some shit. Like, I remember one time there was this guy that raped one of my homegirls, and I robbed him at gunpoint, you know, I made like a thousand bucks. And I thought I was the man.

Starting point is 00:20:19 Like, I just felt like on top of the world after that. I was like, felt like I had accomplished street. justice and I just had this burst of energy over me like this is it like I could do this forever like this is the answer you know what I mean so but that was it was I can't remember specifically what it was but it was probably one of those like I wasn't really big into stealing cars that's huge in Denver a lot of people steal cars in the city like in Denver Aurora Lakewood I was never really into that was never into stealing cars and stuff I had bought stolen cars off of people but I never like actually was the one that stole them because my mom my mom my mom

Starting point is 00:20:54 lost a lot of money from from scams and and you know people taking advantage of her and stuff like that when I was younger so I you know I'd kind of feel for innocent people you know still had morals like it might not sound like that in that world that you you're taking place and doing those things but I definitely felt like I had a moral system like I wasn't going to do anything you know like violent or like crimes towards innocent people when you were doing these things how did you feel how did it make you feel it made me feel on top of the world. Like, I could still feel what it felt like the night that I caught my first big case. I caught 12 felonies that night, 12 violent felonies. I was facing 16 to 32 years for each one. But I just, I felt like on top of the world, like I had, you know, accomplished something

Starting point is 00:21:41 like, you know, like I was untouchable, like I was Superman, you know? I just felt like the king of the streets at that point. You know what I mean? No, you said the word dummy mission. what does that mean so like a like i don't i've heard different phrases for it um like you know on this side of on this side of the country or maybe like a missile or something you know what i mean like something like something like when you're younger and especially now because i just got out of prison in 2023 so and when i was there i had the unit from my homies this is totally different different than what i'm doing now it's completely different worlds but when you're in there like you you do what you have to do you you know, and I ran that unit in Ben County from my homies.

Starting point is 00:22:24 And I would, there was, there was younger homies that I would send on, on missions and stuff. They'd be those dummies, you know what I mean? Those, those crash dummies, I guess is what you would call them, you know what I mean. And what kind of mission would you send them on? To not go too far into details, just like when somebody, when something needed to be handled, like, you know, just like go take care of that, you know, like maybe, I guess more so what I could speak on is like, you know, when somebody in the car would get out of line. It's like, you know, go handle that. And if you don't, then you're going to get your ass beat. You know what I mean?

Starting point is 00:22:55 Do you remember the first dummy mission you were shot on years before when you were a kid? On the streets, most definitely in prison, yes. Because I went to prison in different stages of life so many different times, you know. Like, I've been locked up more times than I can count, but I've been to prison four times. And when I was younger, like the first time I went to adult, adult prison, it was like that's what it was. away. It's like I had to fight like all the time. I mean, I was always the one. And especially being white and like a black and Mexican gang, it was like, you know, like my, my section in Denver's Mexican bloods, but I mean, bled is obviously like a black gang, you know. So I had

Starting point is 00:23:34 to prove myself that much, that much more, especially in prison, you know. So I, I definitely did. I mean, I, like the second or third time I went to prison, it was, it was one of those times, you know, that that I was sent on a mission to go. handle something and I ended up getting stabbed in the head. I got six staples in my head. Still see the scar right here. But yeah, I still remember it like it was yesterday. You know, like I got, it was, it was my first day in the unit and my homie was like, hey, dude's up there, you know, and I had problems with this dude. He's like, you need to go handle that right away, you know? And I'm like, shit, let's go, you know. So I went up the stairs and I went

Starting point is 00:24:20 in the cell we started fighting and then somewhere in the tussle he pulled out a he pulled out a blade and started started hitting me in the head so and i didn't think it was as bad until i was like in handcuffs in my heads just gushing blood so like i went i got sent to the hole and when i'm in the hole i'm in the cell like hey you know my head's bleeding and they looked at it and they were like oh shit and they took me out right away took me to medical and i had to get staples in my head and i was like in and out of consciousness i still remember bro like i had these vivid dreams It was like, like, like movies. Like, I could still remember exactly what it was.

Starting point is 00:24:55 Like, I thought I was dead or something, you know. It was like in and out. How did they not realize you were bleeding before they threw you in the shoe? I don't know. I mean, I think that the cop that put me in the handcuffs was so pissed off that he didn't care. Because I remember saying something about it. I told them that my head was bleeding, you know? Like, I could tell, like, that it was bleeding, but it didn't start, like, gushing until I started messing with it.

Starting point is 00:25:18 You know what I mean? Like, I seen it. And I don't think it was as bad until I, like, kind of pulled it open. You know what I mean? And it started, like, gushing. And I'm like, hey, it wasn't, like, all over the place, but it was enough, you know? Now, when you say knife, was it, like, a prison-made type thing? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Starting point is 00:25:32 It wasn't, like, an actual, you know, like, razor blade or anything. It was just, like, a prison-made, like, probably out of, like, a toothbrush or something. You're lucky you didn't get any type of infection or anything after that. Yeah. Yeah, most definitely. I worry about that stuff. I get checked, like, every six months for, like, hep and HIV and all this. Because of that stabbing?

Starting point is 00:25:48 Not for that. I think just just in general, you know, like I get blood work done and stuff because I just get, you know, like I'm really nervous about stuff like that. But I mean, it's not like I'm doing anything crazy anymore. But especially like when I was in the streets and stuff, you know, I get nervous every time. Even though I'm not like doing things that, you know, would make me susceptible to something like that. It's still like, you know, something that I worry about, I guess. Do you still have any after effects from that stabbing? Yeah. I think that, I mean, I have a TBI for sure. I haven't like gone to the doctor. and actually, like, talk to them about that. But, you know, every time I get locked up, they ask me if I have a TBI and I tell them about that, you know, and they document it and everything. But I'd say, like, it hasn't, like, made me slow, like, mentally or anything. So, you know, I think I'm pretty sharp still, but. Do they say if it was, like, an inch closer to this, you would have been, you know, maybe dead or was it not that severe? I don't think that it went in very far.

Starting point is 00:26:41 I think it was long. Like, I think it kind of nicked me, you know. But, I mean, Staples is pretty deep. You know, if you have to have like staples. And I think it's like on your head, they can't really like do stitching. So that's why they have to do like the staples. But did they do it at the prison or they brought you the hospital? No, they did it at the prison.

Starting point is 00:26:59 Yeah. I didn't even know they were equipped for that. Yeah. I can't. I'm trying to think now. I think I did go to the hospital now that I think about it. Yeah, I did. Yeah, I went to the hospital.

Starting point is 00:27:10 Yeah, I went to the hospital. So now when you're 17, tell us about this robbery that lands you in prison the first time. so okay so um it was it was actually like somebody that i was not friends with but an acquaintance with like he's actually he's actually passed away now but um i had been you know selling him drugs for a while he um he owed me some money he owed me about six or seven hundred bucks and i was you know i mean that's a lot to anybody and i felt like you know like like like he was trying to punk me or something And I went over to his house and he had money and everything. And I'm like, what's up with that bread?

Starting point is 00:27:48 And he's like, I'll get it to you on Monday, like kind of shaking me off in front of these females. So I'm like, this is not going down like that. So we went back to the house where we were partying at down the street and just kind of like catch the plan. You know, like my homie was was gassing me up. He's like, man, you got to go take care of that, you know. So I'm like, yep. So, you know, we loaded up with guns and knives, just shit that we didn't really need. It's kind of unnecessary.

Starting point is 00:28:12 but we went we went through the streets through the night it was like the middle of the night and they were all up partying at this house and we went up this balcony and kicked in this door and tied everybody up with like duct tape and stuff and I had shot next to his head and just a lot of stupid shit you know that that I did in my in my adolescence just thinking you know that I was the man that I was you know that I should have took injustice in my own hands you know but there was five people in the house and it was about two days later that I was walking down the street and I was drunk I had I had a bottle of E&J in my backpack and the cops the cops surrounded me tackled me busted my eyebrow open and that's pretty much what started at all

Starting point is 00:29:01 how they know it was you that did that robbery um his mom actually was the one that like called the cops I don't think he did but I know his mom did when she found out about it you know because it was her house. But still, how would they know it was you? Because he identified me. They knew it was me. You guys weren't wearing masks or anything? No. Oh, okay. No, not at all. Don't you think you should be wearing some masks? Do you want to pull something off like that? Most definitely. I feel like they would have known either way, but it was just like, it was that ego, bro. Like, you know, that, that, that, that, that, that, that ego trip. Like, I just thought I was untouchable, you know? Now, when you guys were doing those types of crimes, was the intent ever to hurt anyone, or are you just,

Starting point is 00:29:37 is it all for show? I'd say it's situational, you know? Like, Like, was it for money or was it for, you know, pride or was it for, you know, like, like the, the, for the moral system of it all? Like, I think it just depends, you know, like, I'd say money was definitely a motivator and things like that. But it, it wasn't like the root of it. The root of it would always be like, you know, the guy owed me money. So it was a principal issue. It wasn't like it was just for the money. You know what I mean?

Starting point is 00:30:09 But that was just a plus. So I was just like, you know. Tell us about this boot camp that you got sentenced to for those five years. So I went to county as a 17-year-old. I got direct filed as an adult, sentenced as an adult. I actually pled to like an aggravated robbery. And I had known about this place because it's like the only like youth prison in Colorado. And it's for only violent offenders.

Starting point is 00:30:36 So everybody there is a gang member. Everybody there is like there for like murder. attempted murder, you know, like the longest you can do there is seven years. So there's people there for juvenile life, you know, that are there for first degree murder, you know, second degree murder and stuff. So I went through that boot camp for for a month and a half where it's just intense and it's like a tier system. So you have to like build your way out of it. You know what I mean? So I went through that and I learned a lot of things about myself in that boot camp like not to be easily misled. I still remember all the language. You know, I still remember everything that they taught us about, you know, easily

Starting point is 00:31:13 angered, not being misled, easily misled, you know, basically a lot about confidence, a lot about being a man, you know, things that, things that you don't, you don't really, you don't really grasp when you're that young, you know, and you have to, you have to learn these things, you know, like when you're older. I think that I always, I always lead back to that about confidence because, you know, I was on drugs for, for five years. I've been sober. for about seven years now, but I was on drugs for five years, and I just wasn't confident in myself. I feel like a lot of people say that connection is the opposite of addiction, but I think that confidence as well is the opposite. You know, once you're confident enough to be able to to hold value,

Starting point is 00:31:56 I feel like, you know, that's what can lead you out of that. You know, obviously it takes a lot of physical work and it takes, you know, going through the withdrawals or whatever, but those things, you know, I don't, I try not to let that define me. Like a lot of people meet me. You know, me and they find out a few months later, they're like, you were on drugs. I'm like, yeah, you know, but I try not to let that define me or really talk about it at all unless it's like relevant, you know what I mean? Do you think you chose to do most of your actions because they were drug-fueled? You were on drugs? I'd say so later on. Like, I didn't, I actually, so this is crazy. Like, I sold drugs when I was younger, like when I was, you know, like I said, like I graduated up to where,

Starting point is 00:32:35 you know, before I went to prison. But when I was 17, I hadn't done any hard. drugs at that point. I had done it after I had got out. So like I continued to, you know, commit crimes after I had got out of prison that first time when I feel like I should have learned a lesson with all the boot camp and with all the programming I went through and everything I should have learned a lesson. But I just don't think that it was, I don't know if it, if it wasn't a long enough period of being away or if it was just the place I was at was so negative and full of, you know, so many just like violent kids and gang members and stuff that I was just like it, I feel like it just made it worse, you know.

Starting point is 00:33:11 So, like, I got out and all my same, my same friends, all my same homies that had told me not to do drugs, my older homies, they were, some of them were on drugs and stuff. And then I went back to prison for a gun. And I seen, I see my homies doing drugs. And I was like, man, I just kind of fell and got on the bandwagon that way, you know? Wouldn't this boot camp be a little bit stricter than like a prisoner jail and kind of separate the gangs and, and violence? and all that. So, so it's boot camp for the first month and a half, but once you graduate that, you're thrown to the wolves. Like, you go down the hill, they call it to the facility. And it's just,

Starting point is 00:33:50 it is a program, but it's not ran the way it's supposed to. It's really loose. You know what I mean? Like there's, like, I've heard it's changed a lot. I haven't been there since, I think, 2013, but there's cameras in the rooms now I heard and stuff like that. But, I mean, it wasn't like that when I was there. It was really crazy, you know, like, people were, getting beat up all the time. It's like enough to where they do body checks every night. Like, they make you like pull up your shirt and take your pants off and everything to check your legs and your limbs and everything for bruises and stuff like that. They do that every night there. What do you think was the most violent thing you witnessed there during that first stay?

Starting point is 00:34:28 It was, I mean, there was a lot of crazy shit that I saw there. Like, there was definitely like a lot of fights that looked like murder scenes and stuff. People, you know, like it get beat up so bad. But it wasn't like, there wasn't a lot of weapons, you know, in there in that juvenile facility because they had it so tight-knit. Like, it was a maximum security facility and they were always searching everything and stuff like that. And we're all kids, right? Like, there's, there's like 13-year-olds in there up to, up to 27. You could be 27 and be there, you know, if you're there for those seven years or whatever. So there's a big range of people, but they just, they have it, they have it on lock. I'd say, like, the craziest thing that I seen was probably my second time going to prison.

Starting point is 00:35:06 And this is when I went to adult prison. There was this North Sider that they were taken off. He had done something. I don't know. Like, that's all their business. I had just seen from what I had heard and stuff. And I was really young at the time. But they had this dude in the cell.

Starting point is 00:35:24 And they had them on the ground. There's people holding them on the ground. And they put, they have these big lock boxes. There are these metal lock boxes where you keep your stuff that, you know, that you have locked up and everything. And they put one of those on top of this dude's head. and jump from the top bunk onto it. And they were just doing that over and over a few times.

Starting point is 00:35:41 I didn't see that happening. But I seen the aftermath of it. And I seen the dude walk out of the room. And the room looked like a murder scene. And this dude's eyeball was hanging out of his head. So yeah, I seen that with my, I walked right by it when that was happening. Did he die? No.

Starting point is 00:35:56 He actually, he kept a gangster, bro. He went and rushed somebody on, like on the yard right after that. You know, like he ate the case. Like he didn't snitch on him. He kept a gangster, bro. Like he went to, he went to, yard right after that he went back to his cell as best he could i mean they they eventually found out what happened obviously because the room was so bad but um he he kept a gangster he went to the yard

Starting point is 00:36:16 and rushed somebody but i mean that that injury doesn't happen in just a normal fist fight you yeah i've heard guys sharing stories about like the lock and the sock to someone's head and the eyeball coming out and stuff that yeah that lock in the sock is pretty universal i think all over the world you know because that's really like the the heaviest object that you can get in prison, you know, and it's really easy to put around a sock and hit somebody with that. This episode is brought to you by ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN is like tinted windows for your internet connection. You could see out, but they can't see in. And let's be honest, wouldn't you want that same privacy online? Because right now, when you're scrolling, streaming, or even

Starting point is 00:36:54 sending emails, your internet provider can see everything you do. And in the U.S., they're legally allowed to sell that information to advertisers. That's wild. It's basically like leaving your cell door wide open, and hoping no one snoops through your stuff. And trust me, that never ends well. That's where ExpressVPN comes in. It reroutes 100% of your traffic through secure encrypted servers, so no one, not your internet provider,

Starting point is 00:37:19 not hackers, not even the government, can see what you're doing online. It hides your IP address, making it nearly impossible for anyone to track your activity. It's super easy to use. Two, just open the app, hit one button, and boom, you're protected.

Starting point is 00:37:33 I use it every time I'm connected to public Wi-Fi, airports, coffee shops, even hotels, because I'm not trying to let some stranger out there log into my life like it's open wreck time. And here's what I love about ExpressVPN. It works on every device, phones, laptops, tablets, even smart TVs, so your privacy follows you everywhere. It's also rated number one by top tech reviewers like CNET and The Verge and their new identity defender feature can even remove your personal data from brokers and alert you if it ends up on the dark web, kind of like having a guard watching your digital back 24-7. So if you value your

Starting point is 00:38:11 privacy or just don't want anyone going through your digital contraband, it's time to lock it down. Secure your online data today by visiting expressvPN.com slash locked in. That's E-X-P-R-E-S-Sv-P-N.com slash locked in to find out how you could get up to four extra months free. That's expressv-n.com slash locked-in. Did that facility have any programs or anything for you to set you up for success when you got out? Yeah. I mean, they have what's called phase two. So like you leave from there and you go like out in the community for 90 days and they help you find a job.

Starting point is 00:38:50 They actually take you from Pueblo to Denver, which is three hours away and they like help you find a job and stuff like that. It's just I wasn't. I did good for a little while when I got out of there, but I just wasn't really interested, man. Like I've like I said, I fell into the drugs real heavy, you know. Like I could have taken advantage of that stuff. The same programs that have helped me accomplish what I've accomplished now is what I could have taken advantage of that. But like I said, I just wasn't really interested. I was still real early in my gangbanging days.

Starting point is 00:39:22 And I was just like trying to have something to prove. And I wasn't confident in myself. And I, you know, I didn't feel right, you know. And I was just looking for something more, you know. and I just gravitated towards the streets and just continuously got worse, you know, like I, I, I, I fell really, really, really bad into drugs, like more than I'd like to admit, you know. And I had, I had a girlfriend that passed away in 2015. That really hit me kind of hard, you know, and made me fall deeper into it. And it wasn't until I actually, like, went to therapy. And I used to think all that stuff was like, gay, you know, I thought that was lame. and stuff like that.

Starting point is 00:40:03 So, like, once I took it serious, once I actually took the therapy serious, and I really encourage anybody to do that, you know, like, actually, like, give it a chance, you know? But once I did that, once I went to therapy and stuff and got all the emotions out and everything out, how I was feeling, and started building my confidence is when I really seen, you know, like what I was doing was so, so negative, and my thinking was so negative and jaded, you know? So, what was your drug of choice? Opiates, but I did, I kind of did everything.

Starting point is 00:40:39 I mean, I did benzos and amphetamines and all that stuff. So, I mean, I kind of, like, after that, that happened, that was such a tragic event for me. After that happened, it was like, I just, I didn't care about anything. Like, I was going that much harder in the streets. Like, even though I was on drugs, I was in the streets. Like, I was shooting at people. I was getting shot at. I was still, you know, doing the most robbing people.

Starting point is 00:41:00 It wasn't as excessive as when I was younger. I wasn't like kicking doors and stuff like that, but I was definitely like, you know, robbing drug dealers and shit like that and just trying to get money. And sometimes I'd be up, sometimes I'd be down. And it was just like a really, you know, negative way to live, you know? Like it was just horrible. So I'm really blessed. I feel really blessed. A lot of things have happened since then, man. Like in 2021, I got indicted. Let me back up a little bit. So like I, when I quit doing drugs is because I got shot. And I was like, I didn't, I didn't quit in that moment. I tell a lot of people that I did, like, that was the day that I was done or whatever. But that was the day I was done in my mind, you know, but it took a little bit to, like, get off of it or whatever. But I decided, like, you know, I could make a lot of money, like not doing the drugs, you know. So I'm like, I'm going to still sell drugs. So now I continued to do that while I was working during COVID and stuff like that.

Starting point is 00:41:55 And I got indicted. And I met my girl in 2021. And we were together for like three months. And I wasn't really doing any of that. Like I was kind of ducked off just like just chilling, you know. But I got indicted in 2021 about three months after I met her. And I was on parole already. So like, fuck, man. Like I'm going to be gone for a minute. You know, so I'm explaining to her. I'm like, man. Like, you know, like I love you. But I got, you know, like, I'm going to have to go to prison for a while. Like so you don't have to like stick around if you don't want to. You know, I totally understand. And she was like, no, no, no, we'll see. Like, we'll see. Like, we'll see. what's going on, you know? So I'm like, I'm going to turn myself in in three weeks. She's like, okay, cool. So that day comes. It was August 1st of 2021. And I wake up to a text from my cousin. And she's like, I'm sorry to hear about your dad. And I'm like, I'm like, what? So I call my mom. And I'm like, hey, like, did my grandpa die? Like, what's going on? And she's like, no, I'm talking to the cops right now. Your dad died at his girlfriend's house. And I'm like,

Starting point is 00:42:58 damn. So that shit broke me down. But I was like, man, I said, you know, I got to do what, what, uh, what, uh, what, what, uh, what, what I feel like he would have wanted me to do. So I still, I still went. I still went and turned myself in. Um, that night, I still went and turned myself in. Um, and, um, that, um, that just, that whole, that whole experience just really changed me, bro. Like, I ended up getting 10 years. So I stuck it out. I didn't know how long I was going to get. I was telling my girl. I was like, man, you know, like, I, hopefully I'll be out soon, but I don't know. And they were telling me, they were like, you know, we're trying to give you 16 to 24 years and I didn't tell her that I was just like you know hopefully you know I'll be out soon

Starting point is 00:43:38 whatever I was just kind of comforting her but she wrote the whole time no questions asked I never I'm not one of those dudes that sits in prison is like sweating their girl like where are you at what are you doing what like who are you with nothing like that like I'll you know like just do you whatever you know like I'm just happy that you answer the phone so and those same guys are talking to other girls too bro I swear it's crazy like my my homie will call me from the joint and he's like yeah I just went off on my bitch and I just called her a hoe and called her this this and I'm like bro why are you tripping on her like chill out you know at least she answers the phone like she loves you know like you got to you got to show some type of confidence like you're in a bad situation like you need to

Starting point is 00:44:17 show her that you're actually like confident you know what I mean and that's what's going to make her want to stick around so but yeah um she she wrote for me the whole time the whole time no questions asked just you know every time I would call her she'd be like I'm with my cousins I'm doing this like I wouldn't even have to ask bro and I wouldn't ask you know what I'm not going to I'm not going to funk with her over that. So she wrote for me. And that's a, that's a, that's a big, that was a, that was a big, um, factor in, uh, the change that I've made, you know, like, I still talk to, to a lot of my solid homies. Like I still, you know, I cut hair. I've been cutting hair for 10 years. I don't really have time to do it anymore, but I still cut my, some of my homies hair and stuff like that. And, you know, try to encourage them and lead by example, because I've been able to start some successful businesses, you know. Um, and I also, you know, and I also, you know, have started day trading like I entered a scalp trade. I trade indices and commodities, basically like, you know, trade on the price of gold and invest in in crypto and trade futures. And I have a swing account with my homie in England and one in Florida.

Starting point is 00:45:21 Like we have a joint swing account and stuff. So I try to like everything that I've learned, I try to influence others that are in this situation. So I take that to the halfway house every day and I tell those guys what I'm doing and they get all hyped and stuff. And it's cool, man. I get to go to prisons, like facilities that, that are in Colorado. I get to go, like, speak and do like these in reaches. They call them and go see these guys. Like, I went to a Fremont Correctional facility last month with one of my partners with, with Daniel. I went with him. And it was really cool, bro. I seen like 20 or 30 people that I knew and they were all tripped out, you know, like to see me in there. They're like in these clothes, you know what I mean?

Starting point is 00:46:02 They're like, so it's, it's really cool, man. I really, I really enjoy what I do now. I have some really great business partners. I have a really good trading mentor. I really, you know, advise anybody that's trying to change their life to get themselves a mentor, you know, like, to like put their pride down and try to try to learn from somebody else, you know. That's something that that I had to do, you know, like, realize like I don't know it all. I don't know everything, you know, and when I realize that, let go of my pride. Exema is unpredictable, but you can flare less with ebbglis, a once-monthly treatment for moderate to disappear eczema. After an initial four-month or longer dosing phase, about four in 10 people taking ebbglis, achieved itch relief and clear or almost clear skin at 16 weeks.

Starting point is 00:46:47 And most of those people maintain skin that's still more clear at one year with monthly dosing. Ebglis, LBKZ. A 250 milligram per 2-millimeter injection is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema. Also called atopic dermatitis that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals or who cannot use topical therapies. Ebglis can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you're allergic to Epglis.

Starting point is 00:47:13 Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. Eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with Epglis. Before starting Epgless, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. Ask your doctor about Evglis and visit ebbglis.com or call Wednesday. 800 Lilly RX or 100 545-5979. You thought this was your run club era.

Starting point is 00:47:34 Turns out it was more of a thinking about run club era. The good news? Someone's marathon training is about to start. Sell your workout gear on Deepop. Just snap a few photos and we'll take care of the rest. They get their race day fit and you get a payout for trying. Someone on Deepop wants what you've got. Start selling now.

Starting point is 00:47:56 Deepak, where taste recognizes taste. Amazon presents Jeff versus Taco Truck Salsa, whether it's Verde, Roja, or the orange one. For Jeff, trying any salsa is like playing Russian roulette with a flamethrower. Luckily, Jeff saved with Amazon and stocked up on antacids, ginger tea, and milk. Habaniero? More like Habinier, yes. Save the Everyday with Amazon. It is when I became the most successful in my life, I feel like.

Starting point is 00:48:35 So after that first prison sentence, you get addicted to drugs, and then you get a gun charge that got you your second sentence? Yep, yep. I got caught with the gun, like probably, I want to say, like, two months off parole. So, yeah, yeah, so that led to, you know, just continuing the cycle. like I go in, I do, you know, anywhere from a few months to to a couple years and I would, I would get out and do the same thing, you know, just go, just go back to the block and, and just hang out with the same people and just continue with the cycle until this time. It was like, you know,

Starting point is 00:49:12 a lot changed in my mind this time. I think my dad dying and meeting my lady was a huge factor. My change, you know, my change, my change in my mindset. it, changing my actions. My family's been a big help. My mom's great. My sister's great. All my business partners are great. You know, I have great employees for my businesses that are really supportive.

Starting point is 00:49:35 And, yeah, it's just great feeling, bro. Why did the judge give you a break on this last sentence? So it wasn't. So, yeah, let me tell that. So I was on parole when I caught my case, right? So in Colorado, they have something called the Fetzer Law. It's like a case law, right, that everybody like uses. So like if you have, say in my circumstance, I got a 10-year sentence in 2021, my parole eligibility date wasn't until 2027 and my mandatory release date was until 2031.

Starting point is 00:50:09 This was just in 2023 that I had this sentence. But since I was on parole, all my cases were ran concurrent. by the judge so they all become one sentence so your time earned becomes your time on this current case so i got five years off my sentence basically like overnight doing the legwork and everything but it all became one sentence so it's it's very confusing but it's it's this guy in colorado name roy fetzer that that got like three consecutive 32 year sentences and he ended up getting it rolled into one and he got all of his time back and he went through the you know like the um all like the higher courts, the Supreme Court and everything, and it became a case law, you know, so that's what helped me. I mean, that's the only reason that I'm out right now is because of that. I would have still been in there until anywhere from 2027 to 2031.

Starting point is 00:51:01 Now, every time you went to prison, you were a blood? Yeah, most definitely, yeah. Yeah, through, since I was a teenager, I've never changed that. And how does that work when you arrive at a new facility? Well, in Colorado, I'm pretty well known. So, I mean, I know people like everywhere I go. So, I mean, this last time I knew, you know, there's probably like eight or nine of my homies that I knew when I got there. So I fit in right away.

Starting point is 00:51:25 But like when I was younger, it was like I got tested a lot, a lot, a lot, you know? Like maybe worse, probably most definitely worse than, you know, other races because of my skin color and stuff like that. But, you know, like when now when I, like if I was to go back to prison right now, like I would be embraced. Like, no questions asked. Who do the bloods fight with in prison? In prison, I mean, obviously the Crips and GKIs. I mean, that's really like the biggest, you know, like, like beef going on without getting too deep into it. You know what I mean?

Starting point is 00:51:55 And are you the minority as a white person in the bloods in prison? There's actually surprisingly a lot of white bloods, bro. Like, there's a lot, like, from all over. I mean, maybe, you know, like to how official they are, you can't really say. Like, you know, we're like in how people, you know, in Cali, are going to view me. Like, that's really like up for debate or whatever, but I don't care. I never cared. You know what I mean? Like, I know where I'm from and what I represent and that's, that's what it is. I mean, as far as like the gang stuff now, do I really care about it? I mean, not so much. I mean,

Starting point is 00:52:30 I love the, I always say this. I always say this to all my homies. Like, I love the hood. I always will. But I hate my homies. Like, you know, because they're just like, it's just negative. But I say that in like a, you know, in a sense, like, um, just from the negativity, you know, there's so much negativity so much negativity with people so it's like but i do i i love a select few for sure but you know it's the ones that that are stuck in that mindset of of you know like i tell them i'm i'm how i'm doing now and they're like oh it must be nice you know what i mean like i i hate that i can't stand that jealousy that's with that that's with everything you know when you see when you've come from an environment where people are kind of doing less but then

Starting point is 00:53:12 they don't really realize anyone could achieve that bro I mean, really, I mean, but I think it's just, I take it as such disrespect because it's just like discounting everything that you've done. Like, look what you built. You know what I'm saying? Like, you've built something great, you know, like that's, that's amazing. I really, like, I think that's dope. Thank you, man. Yeah, of course. And when I see somebody that's, that's done something like that, I'm like, man, that's, like, I feel like I could do that. You know, instead of sitting there and being jealous and being like, oh, it must be nice, like, I could do that. You know what I mean? Like, I don't, I just. I mean, anyone could do it. I mean, anyone could do it. I literally started in my car, you know, making TikToks off an iPhone. Yeah. And it doesn't even, you could have a cheap algae or a stamp or anything, you know, a boost mobile plan, you know. It really doesn't take much to get started. Yeah, for sure. I think people come in here and they'll see like the equipment, they see the space and they see everything.

Starting point is 00:54:02 And that doesn't just happen overnight. It's an evolution of it. And that was a part of my journey to achieving those things. I didn't just get all of that in the beginning. Yeah. It's not overnight. You have to take small steps, right? You have to take small steps towards your goals.

Starting point is 00:54:17 And I mean, I definitely see, you know, how you've blown up. I've seen your videos and I think it's amazing, you know. And that's, I could really attribute those same steps to my process and my journey. I feel like I've came a long way, you know, and I just don't feel like there's any time in the day to be jealous, you know. And I see that a lot. I see it a lot. Like I answer the phone still pretty much for everybody that calls me from prison. I'm on a lot of phone list.

Starting point is 00:54:42 I'm on probably like 20 or 30 people's phone list. list in prison. And they allow that communication with someone that's out of prison? Yeah. I couldn't even believe that they allowed me to go in there. I've been to two different facilities and I'm like on the books to go to two more in the next couple months. But I just, I can't believe that they allowed me to go in there. But it's for the right reasons, obviously. Like I'm on, you know, I'm doing it for the right reasons. I'm, you know, but it's just, yeah, it's crazy, bro. It's, it was a trip walking in there, like, and especially because like, every facility I go to in Colorado, I know people. So it's like I see them and I'm able to like

Starting point is 00:55:18 hug them and say what's up and talk to them face to face. And it's just a crazy thing because I never thought I'd be able to do something like that. Like even doing what I'm doing now, I never thought I'd be able to go in the prisons. And I just got an email this morning. This guy from the TC program or Fremont wants me to go in there and speak and stuff. I just, I think that's so cool. I've seen a picture of you doing that. That's exactly what I want to do. I just want to continue to to lead by example bro and just show like you know especially people coming from you know my my specific circumstances or like you know ours like in the justice system like showing people that there's another way you could start a business you know what i mean you could take excuse me you could take those

Starting point is 00:55:57 risks you know like it's all it's a gamble you got to take risk to to to get where you want to be but you know like you have to you definitely have to like it's not going to just build itself and a lot of people are just you know they just come straight with their handout they just they just that's what they want you know and i'm i don't give keep anything i tell i tell everybody that i work with i'll show you how to do it i'll tell you exactly what i did i'll show you how to start a business i'll help you with your llc i'll help you get your e i'll help you get the duns number i'll help you do everything you know but it's just really a lot of people just want it handed to them they want it overnight it's that instant gratification it's that that addictive mindset that they just want everything now you know what i mean

Starting point is 00:56:39 They don't want to work for it. Now, do you think you could have survived in Colorado prisons without being a blood or any type of gang member or do you have to be affiliated in there? You definitely don't have to be affiliated, but you're looked at like, you know, like a lame or an act, like when you're not, I guess, like, you know, like if you went in there, you maybe run like with the white boys or something. Like that's just how it, you know, like you really, it's really susceptible to being clicked up.

Starting point is 00:57:03 Like you're, you're going to be hit up, you know, just like probably any prison in in America, you know, like you're, you're going to be, like, targeted a little bit more if you're not part of a car, I guess, you know. Oh, so you guys call them cars there, too. Yeah, most definitely. Okay. Yeah, like the whip or the car. Yeah, so we go by that in the feds, or at least on the east coast.

Starting point is 00:57:22 I think it's different in some states, but most of the state guys I talk to that weren't federal have never called it a car before. Oh, yeah, really? Yeah, yeah, we definitely, I mean, that's, you know, the whip, like, run the whip, you know what I mean like that's that's yeah exactly that's exactly what it is so yeah that's the terminology that we use out there for sure what are the politics like um it's really loose like it's different so like in california i know that you know i mean obviously like i'd have to run with the race and you know i'd have to run with like the blacks or whatever you know like if i was on blood time

Starting point is 00:57:54 you know but in in colorado it's like it's pretty it's pretty loose i mean you just it's it's the different sets the different cars like you got crips bloods gk i Seraños, Paisas, white boys, you know, and then you got like, you know, the religious kind of like Muslims and that just kind of stick to themselves and do their own things and stuff like that, you know. And then they have like, they have in facilities in Colorado, they have like whole units that are like, you know, guys that might check in or being there for the wrong reasons or whatever, but they call them like God pods, you know, where people are like in, you know, religious pods where people are like on that kind of time, you know.

Starting point is 00:58:33 How are the prisons laid out, at least the ones you were in, the higher security ones? It's kind of, honestly, it's like a county jail, bro. Like, you know, I mean, they get more strict as time goes on. Like, when I first went to a door prison, it was more loose. Like, you could walk around to different units and stuff like that. And, you know, there's controlled movement. But, you know, like, you could, you could damn near go to a different unit until count time, you know, and then sneak back or whatever. But now it's really, like, locked down this last.

Starting point is 00:59:03 time. I mean, you get one hour of rec every day. It's basically like county jail. It's like, you know, county jail with the TV. You get a TV. You get to buy a TV and a radio. You get these canteen items. But it's basically like county jail, bro. It's like there's no programs. And that's something that I want to, to try to, you know, eventually branch off into bringing into the prison system. It's like more programming, you know, more opportunities, housing, just different resources that's basically like what I do is as my employment is a resource broker for people that are getting out of prison you know that's that's why we open the sober living house and that's why you know I offer all these resources to these guys in the halfway house and stuff like that because

Starting point is 00:59:46 that's what I want to do I actually was talking to Mattis I want to start some type some type of like show you know like podcast show because they have they have tablets in Colorado where you can like listen to specific you should actually look into that maybe getting your show on that tablet like whatever program it is, I'm not sure. That's maybe something I could email you later, but that's something that I want to look into doing as well, you know, getting some equipment, like starting some type of, some type of show for specifically that population to like, you know, introduce resources to them or give them business ideas or talk to them about investing or financials about, you know, about stocks, about crypto, stuff like that, you know. Yeah, definitely. I mean, I was looking into it somewhat

Starting point is 01:00:28 just in general at different states and trying to figure out like a way to streamline it. It's not really effective for us to upload each one to another site on top of what we're already doing. But maybe if they're able to pull the links from YouTube and download it, I don't know how that whole thing works or what those systems are like. But there have been people that reached out, not looking to make any money off of it, just like to offer those episodes up for free. Yeah, that would be cool. I see a lot of your clips, bro. It's very, it's huge. It's effective. I think that it's really cool. I like this show a lot. I like the whole basis of it and I think that it reaches a lot of people and you know um that's something that I want to do

Starting point is 01:01:07 I want to give people hope because it's like you know I used to think that people that talk the way that I'm talking now it's corny and but I was stuck in that negative mindset you know and that's really what it is is just like a lot of people just need to believe in themselves and find that confidence within themselves to make themselves a high value individual because you know when you add value to yourself you know you're seen with value from other people and that's what gives you all opportunities, right? That's what gives you opportunities in networking. That's why I've been able to network with people that, you know, are actually like high up in business or, or trading or whatever it is, you know, in real estate or things like that, you know, is because I've added value to

Starting point is 01:01:48 myself, you know, like I've taken those small steps to build, you know, what's, what's, I hope to be an empire one day, you know. So when you're in prison that last time and you're a gang member and you want to make a change in your life and you want to go out and do better, how do you kind of separate yourself from the violence that goes on in prison or the gang activity or to focus on yourself. How do you do that? It all happened so fast. So I was involved in all that just recently, you know, 2021, 2021, 2022, 23. I was involved in all that. But I guess, you know, I took, I took a lot of risks when I was in there where I could have gotten in trouble and extended my time and stuff like that. I guess I just kind of got lucky. Like I knew how to move and maneuver and

Starting point is 01:02:29 manipulate and stuff like that, you know, so I wasn't really like catching write-ups. And, you know, like I had my younger homies to, like, send off to do things, you know, so it wasn't until I found out that I was eligible for the halfway house that I stopped, you know, like leading like Napoleon, you know, like I was, I was the one like going in there, like putting hands, you know, and stuff like that. But it was when I found that out, when I went into my case manager's office, I still remember it like it was yesterday. Like he handed me these papers and I'm like, what's up? And he's like he's like your your fetter time went through he's like you're you're eligible for that for community and my stomach drop bro like into my ass I was like damn like like it just got so real

Starting point is 01:03:10 so I went back to my cell during count time and I I filled out the whole packet bro front and back I even wrote like an extra page like a letter to the community board and I put it all together and I was like you know I turned it in the next day and I kind of just pull back a little bit you know Like that's, I think that that was the real turning point in realizing, like, you know, this is, this is not going to be sustainable long term. If I continue to be on this bullshit, man, you know, like, I started realizing a lot of these people don't answer the phone. So, like, I'm not going to reach out to them when I get out. And when they reach out to me, I'm just going to be on a different time with them. Like, I'm not going to fuck with them, you know?

Starting point is 01:03:48 Like, I'm going to, I'm going to really be on my program. And I ran into that, like, at the halfway house, like, I'd have a lot of people trying to influence me negatively. and to go do shit and to go, you know, to go put people on, to go back to the hood, to go do this and that. And I'm just like, no, like, I kind of had to pull back a little bit. And some of them understood and some of them didn't. If they didn't, they never said it to me, like, directly, you know, they just talk shit.

Starting point is 01:04:13 And I really don't care. I don't care about nothing. Anybody doesn't have the boss to say to my face. So, you know, like, this is really what I'm on. And anybody that means anything to me understands that, you know? How do the other members in the gang when you're in, in prison react to that, to you, you know, leaving and getting out early and wanting to change your life, the people that haven't had that realization in their life yet.

Starting point is 01:04:35 So when I was younger, you don't want to talk about getting out, obviously, you know that, you know, like, because you have, I have a lot of homies that are lifers, you know, even my cellie, my cellie, you know, shout out Leo, he's, he's still in there, you know, I still talk to him on the phone all the time. But, you know, it's awkward sometimes, you know what I mean? Because you're all excited, you go back to the cell, like, fuck yeah, I'm about. to get out in like two or three weeks but you can't say that because your cellie's still in there for 32 years or or for life or whatever you know so you really got to keep that to yourself you know what i mean

Starting point is 01:05:06 when i was younger i had an experience with that i i was doing you know like a shorter amount of time just a couple years and i i slipped up and said something about that and one of my older homies got upset and he made me go do something to crash out my time bro and i ended up getting a write-up and i had to stay for longer. I had to stay till my MRD, you know. So, I mean, I just learned how to maneuver, you know what I mean? Like this time was a lot different because I'm a lot older now. I'm 33 now. So, you know, like going to prison this last time, I was 29, 30, something like that, you know, so I'm older now, you know what I mean? So it's a lot different, super different. So would have been unsafe to say in prison, you know, I'm walking away from the gang, I'm done,

Starting point is 01:05:48 I don't want anything to do with it? Yeah, it would, yeah, you could be a target definitely, Most definitely. I mean, I've targeted people for that same thing. I'm not going to lie, you know. I've never said that. I've never officially been like I'm done with this or anything like that, you know, because like I said, I love the hood. I love it. And, you know, like, I know where I came from and what I am and that's what I'll be forever. But I'm not, I'm not on that same time I was before. Like I'm completely different. Like I'm at home. I don't go out at night, you know. Like, and if I do, like, I'm in the car like on a mission to Walmart or something. Like, like, I'm, I'm, I'm in the car like on a mission to Walmart or something. Like, like, I'm on my laptop a lot, bro. Like I work, you know, I work all the time. If I'm not working, I'm doing class or I'm doing group. I'm showing guys this or I'm taking them to go get bus passes or, you know, taking them to the DMV or training my employees or trading, you know, or doing something with my investments, you know what I mean?

Starting point is 01:06:44 Stuff like that. Like I don't, like I said, I've never, I've never said that. And I don't think I ever will, but I'm definitely just, just different. different now and I want to I definitely think it's effective and some people might not see it like that but I think it's effective to to be like that because then you know it's going to show others that actually can hold on to that respect because I you know I've never like dropped it and said like you know like basically disrespect you all so y'all can look up to what I'm doing and potentially do the same thing you know and in a sense I guess like leave it behind you know what I'm saying

Starting point is 01:07:18 but I've never like never said that before you know so do you feel like there's going to be a negative connotation to being still technically a blood without saying that? Most definitely. People are going to see it some type of way for sure. But like if you go to a business executive and say, yeah, I'm a blood, but you mean in a different way, you know? Yeah, but I don't define myself as that anymore. I think I think in my, you know, in my maturity in growing up, I don't see myself as that. Like that's not my first. that's not like on my name tag anymore like it used to be like i used to introduce myself and say that like i used to say what hood i was from when i'd introduce myself to damn near anybody

Starting point is 01:08:00 you know what i mean but i don't do that anymore i don't see myself you know in in that light like i don't like yes that's a part of me it's it's tattooed all over my whole body you know what i mean but i just i don't see myself in that light like i see myself as a business owner i see myself as an investor soon to be a father you know like like a husband like i see myself and those lights, you know, and that's what's important to me. And that's the path I'm going to continue on, you know. What will you teach your kid about gang life? I don't want my kid to know really anything.

Starting point is 01:08:32 I'm not going to talk to my kid about any of that. Like I see a lot of my homies and I think it's cute to like have their kids throw up gang signs and shit like that. Like I would never do that, ever. Like, I want to be. Yamava Resort and Casino at San Manuel is California's number one entertainment destination for today's superstars. Catch the Jonas Brothers return to the Yamava Theater stage on April 30th,

Starting point is 01:08:54 the powerful vocals of Demi Lovato on May 17th, and the signature Southern Country Rock of Eric Church on July 19th. Tickets on sale now at yamava Theater.com, only at Yamava Resort and Casino, celebrating its 40th anniversary. You in? Must be 21 to enter. What's the difference between butter and butter made from real California dairy?

Starting point is 01:09:19 It's the real California farm families. behind it. Real people. Real care. Real intention. Why? Because real matters. So whether you're pouring milk, melting of cheese, or just grabbing one more spoonful of yogurt. Keep it real. Look for the seal. Real California milk by real California farm families. Bonjour, compadre. It's the Priceline negotiator. How do I negotiate so many great travel deals? My greatest gadget. The Price Line app. It's got hotel deals, flight deals, rental car deals, all of those deals in a bundle, deals, game day deals, concert trip deals.

Starting point is 01:09:59 No one deals more deals than Price Line. Hold your horses. There's more. The app let you filter hotels by neighborhood, vibe, star level, and amenities like pools and spas and beach fronts. Wait, I'm not done. Stop cutting me up. Price Line. Very strict with my kids.

Starting point is 01:10:14 I want to be in my kid's life. I want to be a father, not a friend. Well, you steer them down a different path than what you chose? Most definitely. Yeah, 1,000%. Like I want I want my kids to know that I love them. I want to have multiple kids. But I want my kids to know that I love them and that, you know, that I'm always there for them.

Starting point is 01:10:30 But I'm not going to be their friend. Like it's not going to be like all fun and games and shit. You know, like I'm going to be strict because I know what's out there. I know what, you know, I feel like I've damn near seen it all if I haven't. You know, like, I mean, it's been crazy. So, I mean, I definitely want to steer them away from that. I want to be a father, you know. I feel like my parents were like my friends kind of in a way, you know, like they let me kind of do whatever I wanted to do.

Starting point is 01:10:59 They were very loose and like, you know, not as strict with me. And just like my mom, like we would talk a lot and she would like open up to me because, you know, she trusted me and opened up to me about problems or what she, you know, what she was going through with my dad or with my grandma or with her family or whatever. So, you know, seeing her and that vulnerability, I think maybe see her like as more of a friend than a mother. And I think about this a lot, you know? And so when she would try to discipline me, I'd be like, yeah, right. You know what I mean? Like she'd be like, you're grounded. I'd be like, no, I'm not.

Starting point is 01:11:34 And I leave, you know what I mean? I'd be like, I'm out. So, but I do love my mom. I love my mom so much, man. She's so dope. Like, I try to spend as much time as I can with her. I try to see her as much as possible. She's very busy.

Starting point is 01:11:46 She tries to work a lot. She's just, you know, a very busy body individual. How do you feel about your tattoos now? I don't mind them. I mean, it's kind of, it makes me who I am, you know. And if somebody was to judge me for having the tattoos I have, that's not really a person that I want to be in my life. So it's a good, you know, it's not a person I want to have around me.

Starting point is 01:12:10 So I think it's a good kind of like a good pathway for judge of care. or like if somebody's going to look at me differently because I have tattoos and get the fuck away from me, you know what I mean? Do you feel like people prejudge you? Most definitely, yeah. But I don't care about it anymore. Like I think it was kind of dumb getting a lot of the tattoos that I got because I felt judged. I wanted them. Like I wanted that attention.

Starting point is 01:12:34 And then when I got it, it made me feel some type of way, you know? Like, it made me feel like, like, damn, like these people are looking at me all stupid. Like, I go into like a store or something and people were judging me. and I just feel like, you know, I lose confidence because of that and stuff. So it was kind of like, I guess it was for the wrong reasons. But now I don't care at all, you know, like I honestly, I mean, it's just part of me. It's just what it is, you know. Maybe I would have went a little bit different, but I don't, I try not to regret anything or look back and and be like, man, I really should have done this different.

Starting point is 01:13:07 Like, I try not to spend time thinking about the past anymore because that's what's led to a lot of my bad decisions is like getting stuck in the past or having anxiety. Like I used to have super. bad anxiety, like enough to where like I couldn't leave the house, you know, like after being in prison and stuff like that, I'd get out and I couldn't go to Walmart. I couldn't do none of that because I'd either be in, I'd be in like fight or fly mode. So like if somebody's looking at me all stupid, I'd feel like, like they were looking at me like I was a bitch or something. And I'd be like, man, like, like, fuck is this dude. So I get all, you know, I get all amped up and I like start checking them. And then whoever I'm with is like, chill the fuck out, you know. But so, you know,

Starting point is 01:13:44 I've worked on that a lot and I've come a long way with it. What's helped you overcome that? Support. Most definitely just support and talking about things, getting it out, you know, like getting it out in the open. I'm a talker, bro. Like I'm on the phone. Not, I don't know if my bad about my thing was going off.

Starting point is 01:14:02 My watch was going off. I thought I put it on silent. But it's my phone's ringing constantly. I'm always on the phone, bro. I'm always on the phone with my employees. I'm always on the phone with my mom or with my business partners with Chris or Dan or, you know, with my mentor, with John, you know, like I just, I'm always trying to learn from them, you know what I mean? Like, my boy Justin, like I just, I'm always, I'm always talking to people,

Starting point is 01:14:26 you know. I live with one of my employees, Jesus. He's a really, really, really good friend, man. He was actually my cellie in the halfway house. So we live together now. So we've come a long way. It's really cool, man. So what's your relationship with your mom now? It's still cool. I mean, we're good. I mean, I mean, I, I, I think, like I said, it's, it's crazy because I've always looked at my mom like my best friend. You know, a lot of people will say that, but it's like for real. Like, she's, she's like a friend, you know, it's, it's crazy to think that you can have somebody that's just so, like, unconditionally supportive.

Starting point is 01:15:00 She's just been supportive through everything. She's never, like, shamed me. She's told, she cares about me and she tells me to be careful with still to this day, you know, like she, like if I call her and I'm like, hey, you know, she'll be like, what's wrong? Like, are you good? And I'm like, yeah, I'm good. Everything's cool. Like, so I could tell she's got like PTSD, definitely from getting those calls in the middle of the night and stuff.

Starting point is 01:15:21 And from me going to prison so much and doing all this crazy shit, I definitely, you know, feel like she probably thought I would have been, you know, like dead or in prison from all the stupid shit that I was doing. But I have a really, really good relationship with her, man. She's a really good woman. She's dope. If you're sitting across from your teenage self right now, before you ever joined a gang, gotten to any type of crime or violence or. prison, what would you say to him?

Starting point is 01:15:48 Buy Bitcoin. No, probably that, most definitely. But just to have confidence, just to be yourself, you know what I mean? Like, you don't got to prove anything to anybody. You could be yourself, you know what I mean? That's probably, like, short and simply, like, put, that's the most effective thing that I've learned is just to be yourself and just, you know, stop trying to impress people. You don't got to do this shit.

Starting point is 01:16:11 You don't got to do all this crazy shit to impress people. people or prove yourself or anything like just be yourself you know what i mean i think that confidence is one of the best um one of the best um qualities anybody could have most definitely you know i feel like that holds so much value and just just you know in any situation if you if you display that confidence you're going to get a lot further than you would have if you don't you know i love that well alec thank you so much for coming the show today most definitely bro i appreciate you having me man yeah i appreciate you coming man i hope you enjoy the rest of your trip and I wish you all the success with your projects you got going on.

Starting point is 01:16:47 I appreciate you brother. Hopefully I can come back another time soon or something. Yeah, whenever you're out this way, let us know. Yeah, for sure, brother. I appreciate you a lot, man.

Locked In with Ian Bick - I Was a Blood Inside Colorado Prisons — This Is What It Was Really Like | Alec Hackney

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.