Locked In with Ian Bick - I Was a Male Escort — Then A Murder Charge Sent Me To Prison | Lou Charlestin

Episode Date: March 2, 2026

Lou Charlestin grew up in the streets young and never really had a way out. In high school, he got charged with an armed robbery, was tried as an adult, and spent 2 years in prison before he was even fully grown. When he got out, he slid into life as a male escort while still hustling in the streets, chasing fast money and living a double life. One night everything crossed the line........a violent situation that left someone dead and Lou facing a murder charge. The case later got dropped down to assault and manslaughter, but he still ended up with a 7-year sentence in Connecticut state prison. _____________________________________________ #IanBick #LockedIn #MaleEscort #TrueCrime #MurderCharge #PrisonStory #CrimeConfession #realcrimestories _____________________________________________ Connect with Lou Charlestin: Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lou.novaa?igsh=azVxb2V5cmhjdWU4 Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alcrossedpod?igsh=MXVhNThwMzZzNDYzdg== YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/@AllLinesCrossed _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 From Teen Hustler To Walking Red Flag 00:42 Growing Up Haitian: Strict Home, Wild Streets 03:05 Beatings, Rules And A Haitian Household 05:00 No Father Around, Forced To Be The Man 07:00 From Getting Bullied To Becoming The Aggressor 08:10 Smart In Class, Violent In The Hallways 09:46 My First Arrest And First Time Behind Bars 12:44 How Prison Taught Me Survival And Hustle 14:00 Choosing The Streets Over A Normal Life 16:00 My First Gun And Getting Paid To Carry It 19:00 Prison Changed Me In Ways I Didnt Expect 21:22 Prison Tricks, Traps And Getting Played Inside 27:40 Getting Out And Trying To Go Straight 29:39 How I Became A Male Escort And Entered The Underworld 33:20 When Escorting Turned Dark And Dangerous 36:10 Living A Double Life: Streets By Day, Escort By Night 45:23 The Night Of The Shooting That Changed Everything 47:37 Years Later They Hit Me With A Murder Charge 54:44 Facing A Murder Trial, Thinking Id Never See Outside 58:12 Jailhouse Fights, Politics And Staying Alive 01:00:34 Alone In A Cell, Forced To Face Myself 01:04:09 New Prisons, New Politics, Same Old Danger 01:15:31 Walking Out Again And My Second Chance 01:18:36 Life With A Record: Doors Slammed In My Face 01:21:21 What I Learned From Prison And The Streets 01:25:58 Why Im Telling This Story Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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So keep it real. Look for the seal. Real California milk. The house was dark. And I put in my post, like, I gotta get paid up front, whatever. And then I was just like, yo, why the lights not on? And they're like, oh, I didn't pay my light bell. I have candles.

And I'm like, yo, this is a red flag. So I go and I say, hey, I need the money first, whatever. And they're like, oh, I just want to give you head. Once I heard that, I'm like, no woman is going on a website to find dudes to give head. You could go to your local bar and find that for free. And so I got the money. I said, all, go ahead. and I grabbed it by the neck and I felt the Adams apple.

I beat the, when I say the dog shit, like for real. Like it was like really like a bloody mess. Like it was bad. Lou Charleston was a teenage armed robber who thought two years in prison was his rock bottom. It wasn't. After high school, he's juggling life as a male escort and street hustler when one night everything explodes and someone ends up dead. Now he's facing a murder charge,

praying it gets dropped and realizing how fast, easy money, can turn into seven years in a Connecticut state prison. So I grew, I'm from Stanford. I'm born and raised in Stanford. Move to Bridgeport for like middle school and then moved back to Stanford for high school. What was your upbringing like? Bro, Haitian upbringing, meaning jeans, church shoes, you know, fully dressed, fully dressed in church clothes for picture day. We couldn't go to any Halloween parties or celebrations.

We didn't believe in Halloween. We went to church about six days a week. Like the strict Haitian upbringing. Like, that was the upbringing. Were both your parents in the picture? Yeah, until like fifth grade. Did they got divorced or separated? Because they're like Haitian Christians.

They don't believe in divorce, you know? So they just, you know, write it through. Did you have siblings? Yeah, I have one brother and three sisters. Were you guys all close? All of us. Yeah. How far an age?

So my older sister is exactly a year older than me. She's June 9, 1990. I'm June 9, 1991. And my brother is 92. My little sister is 94. And then the baby is 2000. She was like a, we didn't even know like how she came into the picture. Because my mom was in her 40s.

We didn't even know she could have kids. All with the same dad? All with the same dad. Yeah. Okay. What do your parents do for work? My dad was a dishwasher. My mom was a CNA.

You know, so it was just like the, like, yeah, like, we were broke, though. We were 100% broke because it didn't add up. We constantly had family coming from Haiti that we were housing and things like that. So it was like, other than the Haitian community sticking together, like, it was, it wasn't all that. We lived in Connecticut Avenue in Stanford. But in the 90s, though, it's nothing like how it is now. In the 90s, I'm talking about like it was the concrete stoops, the black metal doors. Like, yeah, it was the hood for a row.

Despite that, despite your economic circumstances, do you think your childhood was good overall? Yeah. Yes. Due to family, our cousins, even though our parents weren't as close in it with their siblings, the cousins, right? My cousins, we were all close in it, so we created that. Like, we created that for ourselves. So it was a pretty good upbringing.

At least I was put into like a leadership role young. So when my mom separated from my father, I was kind of like big brother slash dad, you know. So like a lot of the things that I, like my mom raised me in a way to be a provider and a protector. So I had to grow up a little bit faster, you know. When they separated, did your dad still stay in the picture? I mean, I'm trying to remember. Not really, because I, like, nah, not really. So my dad had,

my dad was diagnosed with a lot of things, like, three years ago. But being Haitian, we don't believe in mental health. So we just thought, like, my dad's schizophrenic. So we just thought that it was a demon in them or something, you know what I'm saying? Like, because that's the Haitian culture. Like, oh, just pray for him. So it's a lot of things that went, like, untreated, which is in turn why he,

acted the way he did. He also suffered from epilepsy, depression. He suffered for a lot of things that we didn't know about at the time. So a lot of things my mind went through with him was due to not being treated to mental health. You get what I'm saying? So was he in the picture? Not so much. Not so much. I mean, we moved to Bridgeport. He still lived in Stanford. We would see him once in a while, but we kind of like we're in our own world. Did you think that lack of a father figure at that point have a big impact on you and you're going into your teenage years? I didn't think it impacted me up until my brother and I, like two weeks ago, had a conversation about it. And we're like, yo, we really didn't have like a male role model, like, which is

why, like, we're trying to create something different for our kids, you know? My brother, 100% grinder. My brother's a chiropractor. He owns Charleston chiropractic group. He has an office in Stratford, Connecticut and he just opened up an office in Hamden, Connecticut. So he's doing his thing, right? But we're doing what our dad didn't. Like, our dad showed us what not to do. You know what I'm saying? Like, so that's that type of situation.

How would you have to describe yourself as a kid? I was extremely smart. I was like the smartest one of the family. I didn't have to study. But the behavior was not there. As a kid, I was a jokester all the time. I was aggressive. I was very competitive play sports.

I was very family-oriented, though. I rolled out for family, you know? And, yeah, that's how I described myself as a kid. Where do you think the aggression came from? I got bullied a lot. They bullied you, Lou. Yeah. For what?

Let me tell you why I got bullied. First of all, in my family, the older cousins are always going to bully you. That's just that. but my brother was such a hothead. I kid you not, we would go to school. My brother would misbehave, do whatever he has to do, whatever. After school, we're leaving school. My brother comes up to me like, he's like, Lou, I'm like, hey, what's up?

He's just like, okay, so I got into it with this kid. I'm about to fight him, and you're fighting his older brother. I'm in sixth grade, and the older brother's a junior in high school. So did I lose the fight? Yes, I did. Did I back down? No. But yeah, like I got, like, I feel like bullying was a part of growing up.

Not to say that I was intimidated by, no, but older cousins, they got, they're bigger than you. They had their way with you. They're going to make you do what they want them, you know, they want you to do. So the aggression came from that, moving from Stanford to Bridgeport, was a whole different dynamic. We're going from, I'm in Stanford. I remember 2001 when the World Trade Center happened.

I remember we moved like after that. And so I went from Stanford where it's like fifth grade, everybody just chilling. We are happy listening to like little bawa and then syncing things like that to go into Bridgeport. The first thing you do when you walk into the bathroom, it's like 10 people in there and somebody walks up to you like,

hey, bro, let me get my 30. And it's like, what? I was like, what is that? That's like, oh, we're gonna fight. I'm like, why? They're like, I just want to see how your hands work. Bridgeport was different. You had kids. selling cigarettes to the teachers.

In fifth grade, six grade, like, so it was a different ballgame. So the aggression came from that, like, because you became a product of your environment once you got to that environment. At that point in your life, where did you see your future going? What did you want to be?

If anything at all. I mean, I still did okay academically, but where I wanted to be was just, I don't even think of that was thinking about that. Honestly. I just know I wanted to be rich. right but that was like I thought without a plant

you know that's that's that's all I could think of tell us about high school were you getting into trouble or was it a normal experience yeah I got I got into trouble in high school high school was the beginning

of my demon days you know high school I had this one teacher I'm not gonna lie to you Miss Danucci she was my um she was my algebra teacher and I made her cry

and the reason I made her cry was because she said, you have so much potential. She's like, you come to class, you put your head down and go to sleep, and when we take a test on Friday, you get a B. And I have people that's in here every day

paying attention and getting a C, you know? He's like, why don't you apply yourself? And I'm just like, I'm like, shut up. No, for real, because that wasn't really my interest. Like, I just had, and it wasn't to say that I was like extremely like OD smart. It was just like I had very good like short term memory. I could like I could remember something long enough for me to, you know, pass the exam or do what I have to do.

You know, but the problem with that is what happens for midterms, you know, or for finals. Now I got a really, really study for real. So that was that. But high school, I was a troublemaker for sure. I was still the jokester. More towards the end of high school, I ended up going to prison during high school for a first bid.

Believe it or not, it was for a crime that I honestly didn't commit. What was it? It was robbery, second, and conspiracy. My cell phone was used. And so my cell phone was, I was the only one in my neighborhood with a cell phone at the time. And so a few people from my neighborhood called and robbed the Chinese delivery man.

So when I get arrested and all that, They did a lineup where the Chinese delivering me and said he never, you know, seen me before. Not, I'm sorry, let me correct that. It's not that he said he said he never seen me before. He said that he delivered to me before and he would know my face. But given the fact that this is the part that I did play.

After they did do that, right? After they did do that, they did call me and say, hey, listen, we need an alibi. And yes, I did create an alibi. So I could see where the conspiracy was. But I was, this is before I was kind of, I wasn't in the streets yet. You know, so this is, I was like dumb to that. You know, like, I'm implicating myself in a crime and things like that.

But I was just trying to look out, like I said, I was loyal to my friends at the time. You know what I'm saying? So I ended up, I didn't know the court system or whatever. The public defender said, hey, listen, take this time. My lawyer for the other case later was just like, bro, I would have spank this. You know, but who knew? Who knew? I just took the first offer they threw at me.

That's all. Do you wish you told, looking back on it? No. You know why? It's because there's certain things that I learned in prison that I don't think I could, I would have learned without going to prison. So my first bid was NYU. That's gladiator school.

You know, out of all the prisons I've been to, that was the worst. But the youth prisons are the worst prisons possible. That's when everybody's going through puberty, you know, like emotions is there, testosterone is there. It's nuts. You know, and it put me in a position to be like, yo, like, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it.

I enjoyed it for real. Because I feel like it toughen me up. I feel like it toughen me up because, one, you don't have a gun in there. All you have is your hands. Or the gift of gap. You can talk your way out of a problem, you know, if you're good enough. You get what I'm saying? So, like, and it's just like being under, like, supervision all the time and things like that.

It really make you look around and be like, yo, I can't let another man tell me when to eat and do what I have to do and things like that. But it teaches you that at a young age, you get what I'm saying? So not to say it's going to change you to never go back to prison, because I didn't end up going back to prison. But it's like it was more on some like, I came home, more humbled. And that's where my work ethic started from being a tierman in prison to coming home and being like, I get paid more than 75 cents a day for this. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, yeah.

So I think that's where the own work ethic was created. Were there things you were doing at that time period that you just weren't getting caught for? Like were you running with that crew at all? Bro. Like say they're robbing, the Chinese guy. Bro, let me tell you something. if you know how many shootings I did at that time

there's a lot of things I didn't get called for at that time. So do you feel like a part of you took that bid because, I don't know, karma or you knew you were guilty of other things and this is the thing that you just happened to go down for? No, because it's like, catch me if you can't, right?

You didn't care, like, I did so much. It's kind of like, I would rather have fought something that I actually did rather than sit there and sit for something that I didn't, you know? So, like, in the time period, yeah. It's crazy because I had, I had, I compartmentalize a lot of things. So a lot of the, like, shootings I did, it's people that reminded me of it, right?

So this one girl, I'm not going to put her name out there because I don't know what career she has now. But I remember I saw her, like, 2011 because I came out 2010. And she's like, yo, Lou, the last time I saw you, you hopped out of a white G grand Cherokee, which I know she's not lying because that was my dad's car that I used to steal. And she was just like, you had a sort of shotgun and asked me if a certain group of people

was at this party and I was just like, yeah. And she just said I went into the party looking for them and all she heard was the buck shots. And the crazy thing is when she told me the story, I remembered it, but it was a dream. to me. Like, it was like, oh, that really happened. Like, it was a dream to me. That's how I know, like, there's a lot of things I put in my mind and just like, crisp, refreshing and unmistakably tasty. Ice cold, Coke Zero Sugar. It's the only drink with real Coca-Cola taste and zero sugar.

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So what was that defining moment that led you down that path? Because does it just happen overnight? No, so to define the moment, the defining moment and shout out to my cousin Eric Benjamin and Rodai and I love you Eric

but he was a defining moment in me becoming like somewhat like that because he went to prison and things like that but more so it was a friend of mine this dude Dino

Dino he was a friend of mine he allowed me to jump off the porch right so this dude um dino he's doing extremely well now i love you boy but um dino at the time when we were younger he was nuts you got to say him like he was nuts and so we went i mean that was my first shooting uh that was my first home invasion that was my first like everything you get what I'm saying? Like, he, he was like a, he used to, like, put things together.

Like, he was a good thinker, you know? Like, he was a good thinker in terms of putting things together. But at the same time, it's like, there's a lot of times I have to be like, you know, you're going to have to chill, bro. Like, you're going to have to chill. But he's the one that allow me, like, I got my first gun with him. You get what I'm saying? So, and that's when it really began.

So what was it about those things? Like, if you're a teenager doing a home invasion, what is it for you? So. Is it money? Is it the feeling or the power? No, for the home invasion is, this is how it usually happens. Somebody makes a rumor that that house

is the house of a drug dealer. So you're going in there, it's like 30,000 cash and you're going to find 10 guns. Usually not the case because who at that age is really scoping something out. So it's probably like a rumor. You go,

you do the home invasion. It just so happened in this one, we actually found guns. You got what I'm saying? And due to the statute of limitations, This is over 15 years ago. So, yeah, over 15 years ago. The statute of limitations is up.

But, yeah, so, and we found guns. And that was that. You get what I'm saying? Now, do you know what's the type of person I like, yo, I could say at the time, he was a grimy dude. Like, not, like, grimy as in, like, Dino's the type of person, no life I'm going to describe him to you. it's kind of like

you like violate him in some way and Dino's like oh okay right and then we get and he was staying with me at the time he got back to my crib and Dino was like I think I'm gonna kill him

like I didn't think you cared at the time like you know so it was just like that's the mentality I was around you feel what I'm saying like that's the mentality I was around so

and my friends from my neighborhood hated it they hated me at this time because that was a transition from the Lou they know to Lou Banga. You know, that's how I started, like, all the shoot-ins and, you know, and getting it in for real. Now, why Lou Bangor? Is it because you guys were gang-banging?

Were you guys in a gang-a-nor? No, so I got the name Lou Banga from a dyke girl named Manda from the east side in of, she's from Lawn Ave in Stanford. So I got into a fight with this dude, Popface. And Potface is doing extremely well. He's married with kids. He's doing great. He has a hot sauce company.

So shout out Popface. You're doing your thing. But we got into a fight in high school, you know, which was crazy because it was actually over the woman that he's married to now, Paula. Wonderful woman, you know. They've been, you know, they've been together forever. But, and after seeing the first. fight, the girl Monda said, we can't call you Lou anymore. We got to call you Lou Banger for the hands.

You get what I'm saying? So that was that situation. Now, your parents didn't raise you to be this type of person. No, but you know what's crazy? Come to find out. My uncles, right, a few couple of my uncles, while they were in Haiti, that's the lifestyle they lived. That was a lifestyle they lived.

They did, like, play with guns and things like that in Haiti. Because my mom used to wonder, where is this coming from? But it's like my mom met my dad in America. She didn't meet him in Haiti. They're two different classes. My dad was poverty. My mom was like upper class. So they looked down on the poverty people, you know.

It's like, so yeah, I'm just like, so do I think it's hereditary? I don't think it's hereditary, but I think certain things that you're capable of doing come from, I think, DNA. I think, I think so. So now that first sentence, how long was it when you were a teenager? Two. Two years. No, three years to spend. it after two.

Now, they didn't have any type of rehabilitation program or anything to get that like a diversion program. That was your first defense. Bro, they denied my AR and my YO. That's messed up. Is it because it was a violent crime? Even so.

It's my first defense. You get what I'm saying? I got, not only that I get charged as an adult, but, bro, I've seen violent crimes where you could use your AR. If you've never been in prison before, bro, never been arrested before, I don't see why they wouldn't give it to you.

Get what I'm saying? But no, I got denied for both. How do you think that impacted the rest of your life going to prison at that age? Like, just in general, you know, from a... So when you go to prison at that age, it solidifies you as a gangster, at least in your head. You get what I'm saying? It's like, there's a lot of people that talk that prison stuff but never been there. So to have been there and then come back and everybody,

everybody's saying, oh, free loo, free this, free that, then you come home. And, you know, it's like, even if you weren't, like, really like that, After coming home from prison, you might as well be because you did your time and it is what it is, you know. So it affected me to where now it's like, as a felon, bro, let's just say, as a few things I did for work because I couldn't find a job. We'll get to that part of the story later. So now you're in prison for your first time. You're a teenager. When's that first moment where you kind of really learn how to navigate and survive the prison system?

Um, shoot. Well, I have friends that were already in prison. But the first time I learned to navigate was on the, um, on the ice cream truck going, right? That's where you hear the prison lawyers, the people that when they hear, they're like, yo, bro, what you in here for? Oh, I'm in here for like robbery first. Oh, yeah, you're going to get smoke, bro. Yo, just take that 10.

You know, that's, that's like, that we call them to prison lawyers. They know everything, even though they're not prison lawyers. They're just saying anything. You know, every situation is different. That's where you meet the liars. Like, the people that I was just like, yo, man, when I was in the world, I was getting like seven kilos a week. You heard. Like, you know, you got the liars.

And I'm like, on the ice cream truck, I'm just listening. And I'm like, I know this dude. No, you weren't. You used to chill outside of McDonald's like a bum. Like, if anything, you were the client. You get what I'm saying? Like, you were doing the drug. not selling it.

What else did you meet? You met the person that, like, you met the people that, like, weren't built for it because they're sitting there, like, crying on the ice cream truck. Like, yo, I ain't even do nothing

that I can't believe this. Then you got the other people that's being delusional to themselves. Hey, bro, as soon as I get up there, my people's on the way, I'm getting bonded out. I'm getting bonded out. This is light.

A year later, I'm like, damn, you still get bonded out. Like, you know? So, like, that was my first, like, wow. And then the smell. The smell of, like, like, that sour stench of the ice cream truck was like, yo, this is, this is it. Like, this is, like, this is crazy. You're in chains in the ice cream truck.

You get that smell. And it's like, what am I doing? here. Like, that was like that moment. Even that moment was bigger to me than even getting to the prison and getting like searched and all of that. Like just the ice cream truck in itself. Bro, to be shackled by your feet and like, that's different. At least in the prison, if you're getting cuffed up, it's like, you know, up here and but when you got it going around your waist and all of that, you like, what is this? Like, this is like, what did I do, you know? So that was that moment for me. Let me be real with you for just one second. There was a time in my life

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Now go get yourself, good credit. Now, the people that were crying and were the weaker ones, what would happen to them? And what did that kind of teach you about the system? Yo, you could never live it down if you crying. Because somebody's going to be in a prison, like, yo, this, like, one of them, you know, like months later was acting tough. And then somebody was just like,

bro, you acting like I wasn't with you on the ice cream chook and you were crying like a little bitch. You definitely not like that. You know what I'm saying? Like, so my thing is that in prison, if you show weak, even if you don't show weakness, people are going to try you. When people say, hey, yo, just keep your head down,

mind your business. That's false. You can keep your head down and mind you. your business and somebody's going to try you. That's just, it's just that. But I tell people, you better off getting beat up or whatever the case may be than like bitching out because now more people are going to try you. More people going to try you. The people that were crying, I looked at them like, yo, you're already here. Crying is not going to change it. So what are we doing? You know what I mean? Like, what are we doing? But that was my first bid. We're talking about we

15, 16, 17 years old. When was the first time tried, someone tried you? As soon as I got to the prison. I got into deco-so. So at the time, D-Cottage was the intake cottage, right? And so a friend of mine slipped me a package. We're just going to, I'm going to explain what packages, because you know, you know what the packages, but basically like a bunch of stuff, soap, toothpaste, all of that, bags of chips and soups and stuff, you know, just to get me right until I'm able to order commissary.

It was somebody in the cell across from me, and he called me to the window. I was like, yo, and then he was just like, yo, um, Oh, somebody sees your package. I was like, yeah. He's like, oh, what you get? You know, I'm new president. I'm just like, yeah, I got this, this, this, this, and this. He's like, I bet.

He's like, yeah, well, let me get half of that. I was like, what? I was you need a soup or something? Like, you know, I got enough suits to give you one, you know what I'm saying? He's like, nah, nah, I need half. And then I'm still confused. I'm like, nah, bro, I give you a suit. And then somebody in the vent on my side,

because he's on the other side, call me to the vent. He's like, yo, one cell. I go to the vent. And I'm like, yo. He's like, bro, what he's trying to say is he trying to extort you. And I'm like, no. I'm all naive. I'm like, no, he's not.

And like, for real? And he's like, yeah. I was like, all right. So I go back to the door. And I said, hey, yo, bro. He's like, yo. And I was just like, when they pop us out for child, just come in and get it. He's like, what you mean?

I was like, nah, come in. I'm going to close the door and then get it. Like, and he like, no, I'm just fucking, no, they'll try you. Like, and then the person in the vent called me back to the vent and was laughing. He's just like, bro, he's not even like that. Like, he was just trying to see, you know, what's up. You know what I mean? Like, so that's the first time I got tried.

Like, and I was just like, yo, what? Like, crazy. Now, out of that three years you get there, how long do you do? I do two. No, more like, more like 20 months. And do you complete high school in there? Do you get your GED? Yeah, I got my GED.

So crazy thing is, right? Rather than the GED, they had two programs. The GED program and the actual high school diploma program, right? So my diploma says Unified School District 1. I did the high school program. And so I did get it. My GED high school diploma in there. So where were you like 18 when you got out?

Yes, because I turned. I think I got out after my birthday. I was 19. because I think one is 17, 18, 19, 19. So you're 19, you're a felon. What's your plan? My plan was to get a job because I'm on probation. That was a little bit more difficult than I thought it would be.

So, yeah, it was get a job. I got out 2010, right? So I ended up getting a job. at advanced auto parts, which was pretty dope. But of course, being young-minded and being like a criminal mindset, I was telling people like parts

without ringing it up, but I would tell them, listen, there's no warranty. You just buy this thing and you out. I sold an alternator. This is after I've been working there for like eight months. I sold an alternator to some dude.

Spanish dude, I barely speak English. And I said, You can't, no, I mean, do that. This dude, I go on break. This dude comes back on my break trying to return it because he got the wrong number. He gave me the wrong car information

while my manager was there and said, this was never sold. Who sold you this? So I got fired on my break. So you were taking the cash that people... 100%. How much money do you think you got from this? That I made during the course of me doing that?

Six, seven grand. And no one ever noticed till this one guy tried to return it? We always have like a, we always have like a, what's that budget for like loss prevention? Of course, you know? But this is over a course. It's not all like one week or, you know. So it was over, I would say over a long time because it would not just be just that. So it would be like this.

It's a bunch of stuff. I'll ring up a bunch of the stuff. And then the major thing, like a water pump or like two rotors and stuff like that. I'll be like, yo, pay me cash for that. You get what I'm saying? So the people have to be in on it too for a door. And what are you giving them a discount? No, I'm giving it to them.

Bro, I'm literally giving them the product and they're giving me the cash and I'm putting the cash in my pocket. Yeah, but if they say I want a receipt for that, then what's a benefit for them? No, so that's something that I would establish with them before we even ring it up. Okay.

That's what I would put, and that's why I said, I established like, yo, bro, if you take this, I'll pay you cut. I did it mostly with people with, like, commercial account. 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. So your house doesn't surprise you like your friends might.

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Skip the surgery. Keep the curves. Yes, it's real. Dr. Matthew Nykel now offers butts by design with aloe clay, a brand new FDA regulated donor fat solution designed to enhance your shape. No surgery required. Curious? Who isn't? Schedule your consultation today and see what's possible. Check out the results on Instagram. SoCal Plastic Surgeon or visit SoCal Plastic Surgeons.com. Confidence looks good on you. Counts, right. Those are mechanics. They're like, yo. People that didn't care and knew they weren't coming. to return it. They know for a fact they're going to return it because they're putting it in a customer's car. Okay. It's just that. So you get fired, what happens after that? So after I got fired from advance, let's just say that, like, I had to, it's some stuff that I, I went through a different route. So I had this girl Chelsea that used to, you know, a prostitute. So she, I asked, and while I was living home, I used to, like, rent out my room to her in order for her. In order for her, to do what she has to do.

I would just leave the room, go out, or whatever, and I'd get a percentage of it. And then she said to me, bro, why don't you just do it yourself? And I'm just like, you mean women would pay to have sex with me? Like, I'll be willing to pay to have sex with women. You get what I'm saying? And she's like, nah, just give it a try. You never know.

And so, but she was explaining to me, like, you can't write $120 for a half an hour, $250 for an hour. You can't write that. She's like, you got to write roses. And I was just like, oh. She's like, yes, you got to. get paid in roses because you can't have a money transaction. I'm like, all right, all right.

So I posted on Backpage, right? And so to those who don't know, Backpage was like literally where you could hire anything from a freaking, yeah, prostitutes. And so it was slow, bro. I wasn't getting hit ups for nothing. And then I finally got hit up, right? I finally got hit up by a lady. Now, this was interesting because I thought it was fake.

So the lady lived in California, but worked, but once a month had a company meeting because she was one of the owner. Her husband was one of the owners or she was one of the owners in Manhattan once a month. And so she said, so she was just like, oh, I would like to, you know, like do a, because this. This is when OUVU was jumping. And so she said, I want to OUU call you and see what you look like for all and stuff like that. And I just like, okay, yeah, yeah. And so I did that. And then she was just like, okay, well, I would like to see you once a month.

I pay $100 extra for every time you ejaculate. And I'm like, yo, word? And she's like, yeah. So I hit up my boy, rest in my way. piece. I love you, bro. Jamel Sawyer. Because at the time, he was in a wheelchair and he used to give me, like, his Seattleus and his, like, Viagra. And I used to, like, pop half of it and just be ready, bro, like, and be ready. So, bro, I got paid a thousand dollars for 45 minutes and $100 for every time I ejaculated. Bro, once a month, it was great. And she, bro, when I say, Brunette, she was, she was

wasn't bad looking at all. Right? So I wondered, like, why she would, you know, hire somebody. But then it made sense because she has an image to keep and you can't have, like, constant communication. Because with her, it was it's whenever she hit me up. I never texted her, never anything like that. So I had that.

Now, through a friend of a friend, she told I was invited to do a swinger party. And that, and that is, it was. It was like someplace in New York, but it's like a club, you know? I didn't even know it was like it was like like one of those places where you think it's like a band and building. It was actually like a swingers club. And so she paid me 400 to be like her date. And like it was wild in there, like for real.

How does that work, the swingers party? So the one that I went to, it's like, well, it's like a member's thing. She was the member and I had to come in. So it's like couples. It's some married, you know, her and I were, we were a couple, but, you know, she just hired me. And so it's like, it's different rooms, different. They have a bar, you know. If you, some of them, like, more of the house ones, like that's outside of house.

They have like a pill bowl for like ecstasy and whatever you need. They got the condom bowl, you know. got the bartenders that do the drinks, you know, whatever drink you want is free, you just tip, you know, the bartender and things like that. They had rooms where they had the dominatrix room. You get what I'm saying? If you're into that, they had the glory hole where they did. The glory hole, honestly, was like they did competitions where it would be like nine dudes,

nine chicks, and it would be like who can make somebody ejaculate. Like, you get what I'm saying? Like, so the girls is the girls versus the men, like, if they could get more men to ejaculate than not. And so that was like a competition. But it was like a gloryhole situation because you wouldn't see who the girl is because you're behind the thing. And all she's doing is sucking the dick. Now, do you think you were comfortable around all these men, you know, probably naked because of prison? No.

So my thing is this. Keep in mind, I'm getting paid, right? So you're not walking around naked. You get what I'm saying? Like, you only get naked when you're getting into action. Now, there were some women walking around top lists and some dudes that were walking around, like, in like, you know, speedos or whatever the case may be. That's to each their own.

But for the most part, you just had to have, like, just be respectful. Because there might be a dude that come and try to massage your shoulders and you're like, nah, bro, it's not that type of party. Don't go crazy. Like, yo, get the fuck off me. No, just, oh, no, it's not that type of party. And they're very understanding. They're very understanding because they, it was some freaks.

There was some freaks in that. But it was cool. Got to, what I mean? I got to, I got to experience a lot. Like the swinger parties where I got introduced to like furries. You know, you know what furries are? Yeah, I know what a furries. Yeah.

Were you worried about getting caught at all running like this male escort business going back to prison? No. No. Because I felt like people got caught in rings Because most of the people that I saw get caught Were like in um Like if they were doing like freaking um Like a parlor or like

If they were on a site that um If they were on a site that like Okay you're going to a hotel And you're gonna meet this girl that type of situation And in terms of like getting hired as a swinger That was word of mouth I didn't post anything for that You get what I'm saying?

that's like word of mouth. Were you surprised by how many people were into that? Yes. Yes. No, it's, I was surprised at how many prominent people were into that. Like, well-known people or just people with like higher class? Higher class, like, were into that. Bro, the weirdest thing I saw was, like, dudes that wanted to, like, they had, like, diapers

on and stuff. And, like, they wanted the girls to, like, feel. feed them a bottle and burped them. And like, yo, it was this one dude that literally shit in his diaper and wanted to get shit. Oh, my God. Yeah, but they pay big money. Like, the chicks that did that, leaving with like 5K. Did you ever have a weird altercation as the escort?

Like, when it's just you and someone else? Yes. Yes, I did. That's actually why I stopped. Okay, tell us the story. Yo, so it was when I was doing like a, um, so let me just put the timeline. So this was, this is why I stopped escorting in general because I had a separate phone for escorting, right?

It was, it was, I had a separate phone for escorting. So, um, all of my, uh, clients and all of that was just on one phone. So I had, I did a, um, a out call from back page, right? And it was like a weird situation because when I got. to the house, right? When I got to the house, it was like, it was like, the house was dark, you know what I'm saying? And I put in my post, like, I got to get paid up front, whatever.

And then I was just like, yo, why the lights not on? And they're like, oh, I didn't pay my light bell. I have candles. And I'm like, yo, this is a red flag. But because I drove like 40 minutes, I'm like, I need to get my money first, right? And then I'm going to see, yo, yo. I was already pissed because first of all, that's like, what voice do you think you're disguising?

Because I'm not dumb. So I go and I say, hey, I need the money first, whatever. And they're like, oh, I just want to give you head. Once I heard that, I'm like, nobody is going on a, no woman is going on a website to find dudes to give head. You could go to your local bar and find that. for free, you know? So, and I just want to give you how, I'm like, yeah, all right. And so I got the money, I said, all right, go ahead.

And I grabbed it by the neck and I felt the Adam's apple. Yo, I beat the, when I say the dog shit, like for real, like it was like really like a bloody mess. Like it was bad. But I was on probation, keep in mind. So I had to ditch the burner phone. phone because think about it that person that person could say this is the number that assaulted me you get what I'm saying and then it connects to every other person that's on that they're going to just track that phone find any other number it dialed anything could link back to me

where I'm on probation and I had a I had five-year probation over my head right no a five-year cap over my head so if I violated I could have went back and did it five years, you get what I'm saying? So, um, I, I, I ditched that whole phone. I didn't save any number. Like, I didn't, like, I didn't use any number. I ditched that whole phone. And the, the lady from Manhattan that once a month lost it. The swinger lady lost it. So, um, so that was that. And that phase was like, dang, it's over. So I thought, so after that situation, I fell back, I took my back page down all of that. So, um, my, my back page down, all of that. So, Whatever, I'm still looking for work or whatever the case may be,

I ended up finding a job at where I work at now to Spotted Horse. But keep in mind, I found the job at the spotted horse let me see, two months after the case. Because the case, the body I went down for was 2012. right but I didn't get picked up to 2015 but we're going to get to that but so um now I found a job but while I was going to the gas station at a random gas station in um in Stratford it was a white dude that was just like um because I was going to the gym at the time he's like hey hey bro he's just like you're in pretty good shape I'm like oh thank you he's just like you ever thought of uh

being a male entertainer and I'm like Are you serious? He's like, I'm so serious. He showed me his company. Men in motion. You know, so crazy, Ian? I'm still on the website. Wait, you became like one of those magic mic guys?

Yes, but I didn't get to hit the stage. I didn't elevate that high. What were you doing, like, private parties? I did private parties. Yes, I did private parties. Like the bachelorets and stuff? Yes. I did private parties.

Yeah, and then, yeah, I did private parties. And it was, bro, that was probably like the most fun experience I ever had in my life. But I think the funniest part about all this is your street dude. Yes. At the same time. So my boy, my boy, Evanks, I remember at the time, he was just like, I know what stripping, nigga, that would kill you. No, real talk. So you got the street stuff happening on the side.

But I did, I did, like, gun for hire for a little bit, things like that. You feel what I'm saying? What do you mean by that gun for hire? Oh, like, literally, like, people were paying me to, like, hit shit. To what, to steal or? Oh, no, hit shit. Like to shoot someone. Shoot somebody or not even sometimes, like when I got hired, I got hired by,

I got hired by some Italian. I believe they were Italian. I know if they were Italian, right? And literally the hit was just to shoot up a restaurant, right, that was being built that the city already didn't want that family to have a restaurant. there because of what they think the, you know, crime that they would bring. And believe it or not, it was the uncle of the person opening it. And I paid me to shoot up that restaurant.

So because it already brought violence, it was never able to open. So you're not hired to kill someone. You're just hired to, like, shooting like that. Yeah, not hired to kill anybody. I didn't, it wasn't enough, like, it wasn't enough, like, money to do that. So a restaurant shooting like this, how much? you get paid for that. Bro, I was cheap.

I think I did that for like seven Gs. When you look back at it now, what do you think? Stupid. That wouldn't even be enough for my bond. That was dumb. That was really dumb. It was dumb, bro. It was so dumb.

So now tell us about this case you end up going down for. You get the job at the restaurant 2012. You're still doing your street stuff, I imagine. and then 2015 you get caught with a murder charge. In the restaurant. Oh, you were in the restaurant? What is happening? I have the video too.

All right. Tell us the story. Okay, so which story you want to hear? Me getting arrested or the whole situation? I guess tell us the situation first and then lead into getting arrested three years later. So the situation that happened was in 2012 where four people were shot and one died. You know, it was a situation. in which I had problems.

It's not that I necessarily had problems with a certain neighborhood, but it was just something happened two weeks prior to me having an issue with somebody from a neighborhood. And when I got to this party in Stanford, the person I had an issue with me slapped me with a pistol in that situation. Long story short, I waited,

under a lamp post and when I saw a group of them coming like I literally had so they had it down as two different shooters when in reality I just had two straps

and let them have it you know so one I shot four people one died so you were the actual one that killed them I was the only one okay that was yeah

so you didn't get caught why three years why didn't you get caught that night I mean honestly speaking it was so that wasn't the only shooting that night it was a lot of things going on three years later right

somebody by the name of Sean Hunter got caught well it was a couple people was this dude Marcus Williams who identified me as the shooter but that got thrown out this kid Sean Hunter got called for a home invasion and literally like

said that he brought up he brought up this is how good this kid memory is after that crime happened I was on the phone with this kid that I used to be cool with this kid uh J-Rock so he called his sister I was best friends with his sister she called me and he was talking about the situation and so the whole thing was um did you throw that party like that was a line that the state had as me saying that I did it and I said yeah I threw a party on the east side and on the the west side but I wasn't the party didn't mean a shooting you got I'm saying a murder because I didn't nobody got murdered on the west side so how would how would a party you know

but um the dude Sean Hunter he got caught for something in 20 like 14 15 he said listen I was sellies with with this kid J Rock if you go back to this month somewhere around this month in 2012 um J Rock and Lou was talking about about the case and you can nail them like that. That's how grind. 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.

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All these years, yeah. Do you think police pushed it to the side because it was, like, gang-type, violent-related? It wasn't even gang-related. I think police pushed it to the side because of how many potential people could have been involved. You get what I'm saying?

Like, it was just so many different rumors, bro. Like, it was just so many different rumors. But there was a lot of people, like, involved in criminal activity. Yeah, it was... It wasn't like a run-of-the-mill person, an average person in the mall walking that got shot. No.

So do you think they pushed it aside because of that as well? Yeah, at the time, I don't think... I think they just wanted convictions, honestly. They pushed... I don't think they ever stopped pushing it to the side because when I finally got my discovery, they were getting statements from people through the year. Oh, so they were actively looking for it.

They were actively. Wow. They must not have had much of a case on you during those three years. They didn't. They didn't. They didn't. All right. So tell us about the arrest after this guy gives them the information.

Right. So I don't know how long after I got arrested, but I was working at the spotted horse. And you could see in a video that I'm walking doing my rounds as a bar back, the bar area. And you see like 10 police officers, Stanford Police Department in Westport. because Westport, you know, had to be on scene, come and, like, arrest me, like, in the restaurant. And what does everyone say? Like, what are the people doing? People are like, oh, my God, what's going on?

And then, like, it was this one host. He's like a British dude, Hooper. He was just like, get your hands off for him. Like, get your, I will carve my lawyer on you. Like, he's going crazy. And I'm just like, and in my head, I'm like, hold it down, hoop. But not, but I didn't know. what I was getting arrested for. They didn't tell me nothing.

When did they tell you? When I got to the station. And how do they frame it? I remember. They were just like, I think they read me my Miranda rights, right? And then, I don't even think they ran my Miranda rights there. I think they,

when I got to the station, it was the Miranda rights written, and I just had to sign to say I understood it. You know what I'm saying? And then I was in the holdings for like a while. It's like, I'm just like, I didn't even ask questions. I'm just like, I, whatever. And then they finally take me in.

They're like, oh, don't worry, we're going to talk. I'm like, yo, what am I here for? Oh, no, no, no, we're going to talk. So they bring me into the interrogation room and they're like, they're like, you know what you're here for, right? And I'm just like, nah, they're like, yeah, you, you murder Darius. And I'm just like, Darius. And I'm just like.

I said, wait, what? I was like, you guys charging me with that? I was like, oh, I'm going home. I was like, yo, you know, listen, you know how many other things I did that I thought that I was in there for? My mind was racing sitting there. You get what I'm saying? This one was more like the light where I was standing under was broken. And so if you could see me, then good luck,

because I couldn't even see my own hands. So you got I mean? But when they said that, I was just like, oh, nah. And then they're like, yeah, what, da, dot, dot? I remember this one officer, I was just like, listen, you got a daughter. Help us help you help you. Just tell us that you did it.

I'll talk to the prosecutor and see if I could get you 15 to 20 years. And I said, so you want me to admit to something I didn't do, and you're going to look out with 15 or 20 years, I said, like, I'll take my chances, but I, because I ain't do anything. I was out, man, I said, I ain't do anything. So, I was being a dickhead in the interview.

And that's why I'm going to just tell everybody out there, not that I want you to commit crime, but don't be a dickhead in the interview, because when it came time for me to go to trial, that was something we were afraid of, of how I would look to the jury being a dickhead to the cops. Image is everything.

You're better off, just not talking. Just saying, I want a lawyer, and then just leaving it at that. You know? I was just so excited that it wasn't what I thought it was for, that I'm being a dickhead. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, you know what I mean? But just don't do that.

Just, hey, don't talk, and then just leave it at that. So you decided to take it to trial? Yeah, so. Yeah, so they, I think my offer was like 35 years, accept to reject. I'm like, oh, no. No, we're not doing that. And they give you no bail? Oh, 2.6 mil. So the escort money wasn't paying enough to cover that? Man, the escrow money was gone. I had no financial literacy. It was for need, though. Yeah.

So, yeah, but at least I had money in my bank account and did power of attorney so that I was able to, so my mom was able to, like, send me my own money and stuff. And did you get a paid attorney or a public defender? I ended up getting a, I had a public defender first and I ended up getting a paid attorney. And how old's your child at this time? You said you had a kid. Three. She's 13 now.

About to be 14. So when you had a kid at that time, why were you still on the streets? I had a kid at 19, 20 years old. Why wouldn't I be on the streets? You know what I'm saying? Like, I had a kid young. Bro, I would have my daughter for, for the kids. like a weekend and I would have her in her car seat in my room like looking at her like what do I do

like for real I was young so my grandmother my mother and my sister's they help me out you know so I'd bring her to my mom's house grandma would show her and things like that so how old are you when you get this murder charge in 2015 uh 23 oh you're you're really young yeah okay so the escort stuff was super young too. Yeah. But we're talking about three years, two years earlier. Wow. Yeah.

Everything is all one condensed period. Yeah, it's all in that one period. Yeah. Okay. So you go, do you make it to the full trial or what happens? No. So we start picking jury, right? So we go to start picking jury.

So the dude, Marcus Williams, that said that he saw me shooting, he said in his statement that it was his girl, Tiffany Perez. that he pushed to the ground and while I was shooting. And Tiffany Perez wrote a statement, like, probably like while I was picking jury saying she was never pushed to the ground and that from where the person was shooting, you couldn't see anything. So that kind of, there's no murder case without an eyewitness because if they just debunk the eyewitness testimony,

you don't have a case. So the judge said, okay, well, we're going to have to bring this back to the table, you know? So my lawyer told me, hey, they want 12. And I said, listen, I've been saying for four years. Give me five flat so I could max this bad boy out, you know? And so, the prosecution wasn't budging. So the judge himself said, see if your client would take seven flat. No probation, no nothing.

And I said to my lawyer, bro, we could beat this. And I want to sue them, right? and get like paid. He's like, listen, you're going to court in Stanford, meaning that's New Canaan, Greenwich, Derry Inn. That's your jury pool. Now, if you think you're going to have black people on your pool,

you're tripping because they don't pay enough for them to loop, miss out on work, to be on your jury. Do you know who's going to be on your jury? That old white lady that watches the news and believes everything that the news says. That's who you're going to try to convince. So are you sure you want to risk that when with the seven years you're guaranteed to be home?

And I'm like, yeah, that's all I need to hear. I'll take that seven. And that includes the time you already spent? Or is that in a different? No, no, yeah, the time I already spent. So you only have at that point when you take the deal three years? Three years, right. And then you get parole or probation off the room?

Yeah, so I ended up getting halfway, but then paroling from halfway. And after how much time? I did like six and some change. So you only had to do like another year or so after sentencing? No. Like two years. Like two years and some change, yeah. Okay. But you have a murder charge on your record for the rest of your life? I have man two and assault two. So they didn't charge me for all four people.

Oh, so there's no murder anymore. They take that off? Yeah. So it's just man two with a firearm. Okay. And were there other people on the case or just you? I had a co-defendant, but he's an idiot. for even staying in prison that long. He stayed for 20 months, right? When he was on a bracelet that put him at home at the time of the crime. So looking back on it, are you glad you took the deal, or do you think that?

100%. I'm glad I took the deal. Because I can't think of any other situation. What would have happened if you lost? How much time? Oh, 120. 120 years? Yeah, because you get, so, because my original charge was murder and three counts

to first degree of assault. So you got 25, 20, 20, 20, 20, 20, 60. No, sorry. 20, 60. 85 years, sorry. 85 years. Oh, and then another 10 years sort of got.

So 95, sorry, 95 years. Now, this whole time, the four years or five years that you're fighting the case, where did they keep you? I was in northern. Is that an actual prisoner or is it like a county jail? No, I was in the actual prison. Okay. So it doesn't work like some states where you're just sitting in the county jail?

Well, the county jail is if it goes according to bond. The reason why they used Northern as a county for million-dollar bonds or higher. So because your bond was so high, do you think you had a different experience, like a better experience? Better. Bro. Because it's a prison. Northern is where they kept the deaf-rope people that was supposed to get killed. Northern was 23 and 1.

You barely saw sunlight. So you'd rather be there than, I mean, at a county jail than there? 100%. Okay. So tell us about your experience at Northern. Northern was something else, bro. Northern was like, like let's say if it's raining outside and one drop comes through the ceiling, lockdown.

You're accustomed to getting your trays put through the door. Bro, we barely saw... Like, yeah, I remember in Northern, there was a time period where, like, we didn't come out to sell legit for like three weeks. So we just bird bath in a cell to where like when we finally came out, the whole unit was different. We're like, when did this person get here? You know, like, the whole unit was different. And you only have 45 minutes out.

You have 45 minutes out. So imagine like 30 of us, we got to take like three minutes showers each for real and then use the phone and all of that. Like it was rough. So you do your whole time like that while awaiting. sentencing or trial. Yes. So they laxed up on Northern, like my last year there, where they allowed us to come out to eat and stuff.

So you really don't have much, like, physical, like, there's no room for fights or room for anything. Oh, no, that happened when we started, when we started being able to come out. But before that, there's none of that. Yeah, I got into, so Northern I only got into, like, three fights in Northern. When they lacks the conditions. Yeah, when they lacks the conditions. Okay, tell us about those. Yo, so one fight was on the back.

basketball court and it's an embarrassing fight because the dude was like missing the thumb. Like he was missing the thumb and he was my boy but that wasn't really like something that like really like it wasn't something big. That's just one dude from Hartford though that I was playing um we were playing spades and he's trash and I and it's like yo if we bet in money I'm like yo hey please like his name was hey like yo please do the right thing bro like please So we play in spades and we got stuck twice. So this game.

So I said, yo, bro, put your hand down, like, you know, so I can see what you had left. This dude was just holding spades when he could have been cutting books. Like, we really had a Boston, but, you know, like, I'm like, yo, so I got tight about it. And then I started spazzing on him and we started talking crazy. So they had a bathroom open by the thing. So I said, yeah, we could just go in there and get it in for real. real quick. And he's bigger than me, right?

So I'm, like, very nervous. I'm like, yo, I can't, like, lose this shit, you know? Because I'm the one that initiated talking stuff, like, talking shit. So by the grace of God, he's just a heart for a dude that was only accustomed to having a gun. Because as big as he was, he couldn't fight. And that was better for me. I waxed him. I looked him.

So that was great. That was a great one. Another fight I got into was where it wasn't really so much of a fight. I literally just trumped them, for real, because I was just kidding Nate from New Haven, always talking about who's snitching, who's snitching, who's snitching, who's snitching, and like very loud mouth and stuff like that. And just always looking to put somebody down about being a rat or whatever, which we didn't condone at the time.

coming to find out somebody comes to me and slide me his paperwork he was a snitch on a body so I showed him the paperwork and was just like yo bro you gotta go like and he's just like nah I'm not going anywhere I said I cool

he went to use the phone I hung up his phone he went to you go use the shower closing the shower like you're not what are we doing like you're not living here like you know what I'm saying

It was dumb doing that because Marcelli he was older, Marcelli Gully. He said to me like, bro, he's from New Haven. Do you see any other New Haven dudes checking him? So why would you? And that made sense to me. Like, yo, if they're going to allow him to ride and be around, so why am I doing that? But it was too late. I already kicked him out.

It is what it is. You know what I'm saying? I caught two charges in northern for whipping petal. pedophiles. What would you do to them? What would happen? You know the dead batteries put it in the sock. You would sock them with batteries? Yeah. How would you know they were pedophiles? They act like we don't have the news. We watch the news. Like, we know big bonds are coming here. You get what I'm saying? So we see the news. I'll give you the courtesy to be like, yo, oh, hey, what you went here for? Oh, just some bullshit. You know, it doesn't matter. I'm like,

all I do is when we go out for rent, I look at the door, look at your number, your name, and then just go on the phone and he says look this name up and tell me what they're in here for it's just that simple now what do you get out of that at the time you got to understand

it was 35 years except to reject for me I'm thinking I'm cooked so for me it was just it was just a dumb mentality to have like no we're not having that but it did feel good to like really like

like like me my daughter was like three four at the time you sitting here, well, he specifically touched little boys in Greenwich. You know, so it was just like, mm-mm, you're not in my cell, you know? Now, why would Northern relax a condition, like, they go from not having this type of violence to relaxing it and now having all of this violence? Because it was too many people sue in the prison. Because they're like, listen, you're, technically those inmates are, um,

are not sentenced. Not sentence conditions can't be the same as people that's convicted, you know. And that's true. You know, we should be able to get recs. We do need phone times to make call to family and friends, whether it be for raising money for bond or getting in contact with our lawyer. You know what I'm saying? So to have a prison where we barely coming out to sell, we're barely doing anything like that.

Like, that's just nuts for something that's supposed to be high bond. Something that's supposed to be like a holding prison rather than an actual prison. So now when you're sitting in a cell like that for 23 hours a day, just awaiting trial, are you thinking this is going to be the rest of my life? Like, how am I going to manage this? Bro, you know how many times? Like, you go to sleep and you wake up and you're like, and you just see your cell and your heart just start beating and you're like, yo, and you get a little claustrophobic like, yo, and you get a little claustrophobic like, yeah, I can't believe I'm in here. Yeah, that happens. What did you think about your daughter?

Bro, I was fighting the whole body. I didn't really think much. She was a baby. I was just trying to make it out to her. But my mom would bring her to come see me. Now, would you get respect on the tier and the building because you were there for a body? Of course.

Of course. You did. But it wasn't too much on it because that's high bond. Most of us there was there for bodies. You know what I'm saying? And it's funny because out of all the people that were there, it was me. This kid Jay Nelson from Stanford,

this kid Blaz from Stanford, this kid, Keem from Norwalk, and my boy Chris, Santana from Bridgeport. All five of us were in the same unit and all five of us beat our bodies. Like that's unheard of. Because we were in Stanford court

and Chris was in, I think, Bridgeport court. Like, it was crazy. Because that percentage is the people going home from the bodies is just so low. We were so used to people coming back from trial, you get what I'm saying? Like, Brad just lost, you know? Or people coming back being like, yo, bro, I just took that 40, man. You know, like, that's what your, that was a majority of convictions was like literally 40 plus and people losing trial. Like, you know.

How does it feel being able to say, you know, that you murdered someone, but. you didn't get convicted of that. I mean, honestly, it's like, I don't know if I would say it's a flex. Do you feel bad about it at all? No, I don't feel bad. But I wouldn't say it's a flex either, you know? Because my thing is, like, think about it.

If you believe in karma, like, how do you think you're going to go out? You feel me? So, um, a lot of people like to, like, you know, praise it. But it's like, I don't know, it's like, it's, it's, I'm trying to move on from that, like, for real. You know what I'm saying? Because it's like, if you asked me this question back then, like, what I, what I, like, if you ask me if I go back in time, would I not do it, I'm going to say, no, I would. Right.

I wouldn't get to where I'm at today and feel the way I feel about that if I didn't go through what I went through. Because then it would have just been nothing to me. You get what I'm saying? So the fact that I went to. through it is the only reason why I'm like now being like, you know what? It's not so much. It's not a flex. It's not really like a big flex. I mean, does it show what you're capable of doing? Life moves fast. Your banking should too. At Poppy Bank, we know every financial journey is unique. That's why we offer a variety of checking accounts to meet your

needs and goals. With a Poppy Bank checking account, you can expect excellent service, advanced security, and tools to help you manage your finances with ease. Visit one of Poppy Bank's many branches to explore our interest-bearing checking accounts today. Because we believe when you earn more, you can expect more. To find a branch near you, visit poppy.com slash locations. Member FDIC. I guess, you know, but who's not capable of doing that? Before the case got resolved, were you thinking to yourself, like, if I am able to beat this or if I'm able to get out of this, I'm going to change my life and do something different?

No, when you're fighting it, the number one thing you're thinking of, you just reading your paperwork over and over. Like, if I get out of this, I'm killing like 10 people, like, in my paperwork. That's what you're thinking, right? Like, when you're fighting it. Like, yo, how could this person? How could this person? I'm just reading over and over. And then when your discovery, which your lawyer won't give to you, I was watching, like,

videos of people interviews, like, at the police station and, like, oh, my gosh. Like, you think there's a joke when they have, like, giving these dudes cigarettes and McDonald's? It's not a joke. They really do. We can be doing that. I think the worst for my experience is, you know, the people that say, I didn't talk to anyone, and then you read the report. And they said everything. Everything. Yeah. And then you believe them, though.

Yeah, because they're people you've grown up with or you trusted, and they're believable, you know, and it's not until you see that report. Yeah. And it's crazy. Bro, it was people that had nothing to do with nothing that wrote something on me. They probably got caught, like, arrested for, like, having weed on them and we're just willing to talk on the situation. So now how does your mindset change once you actually, you know, sign the deal, you get that time and you go back to whatever prison they send you? Is it different?

Yeah, the time slowed up crazy. When you actually know you're going home, the time slowed up crazy. Like the four years was the fastest part of my bid. Not being sentenced is when time flies. But what's your mindset once you do get sentenced? I did like a paralegal course from the world. I started reading self-help books instead of like her books. You know, I got right with God.

I started going to church. So did you look at it as a second chance at life? 100%. But then also my mindset was just like on what I'm going back home to, like people that might have a problem with me and things like that. So it was kind of like, all right, cool, it's a second chance at life. But there's also a chance that I could get it rocking again because who knows how people feel about the situation. and things like that.

So, yeah, how do you separate yourself from that? Bro, it's easier than what people think. Just literally stay out the way, right? You don't go, like, what's the lifestyle people live? They want to go to the club, right? They want to go to the Jordan releases. You get what I'm saying. They want to go to the lit bars, like, just stay out the way.

I always look at it like this. if you work, it's hard to get in the stuff. It really is. Because once you work and if you work hard and then you do what you have to do, you'd be too tired to do other things. And it was easier, given the fact that I had a daughter,

so I got to put a little bit more focus on her. I have her full time now, so it is what it is. Like, you know what I'm saying? Where did they send you for the rest of your prison sentence after you get sentenced? So I went to Walker. I went to Walker, which is the end, like,

where you, do assessment. And assessment is where they decide where you're going to spend the rest of your time. So after assessment, I did more time at Walker than I was supposed to because I became a tierman. What does that mean?

Oh, a chairman is a worker. Yeah, a termine is a worker. So because I was a worker, I got to stay there. You get what I'm saying? But I remember when there was a new captain that came in and wanted to clear the tierman out because, you know, we had a system going on selling bags and stingers.

No, we had a system going on and they wanted to eliminate that system. So we all ended up getting shipped out and I ended up going to call Robinson. And what was that like? That's a dorm. Bro, after you leave Northern, every prison is like a dorm just about. Every prison is lax once you leave Northern. Is it hard to adapt to that? Yeah, because you're more like when you do your bed, bro, you're more like,

I'd rather sit with my back against the wall and watch everything that's going than just be open. into an open space. The dorm, you're open all the time. So it took a little bit to get used to that. You get what I'm saying? Because, like, I sleep light. You walk by my bunk, I'm getting up. You know what I'm saying?

Like, you know? So you had to get used to that, like, you know? But you're also probably dealing with a lot of people that, you know, are there for, say, like, fraud or not serious offenses. Yeah. Because Carl Robinson is when you're at the end of your bed. You had a lot of people that just did, like, 18. And they're like on year.

Well, they got an 18-year sentence. And they're on year 16 and a half. Right. So that's who you're dealing with. You're dealing with people that's like on their way out. But you also dealing with people that just came in for a one year stint. So they don't really care what type of time they on. You get what I'm saying? So is there clashes between like those old heads, OGs and those. Yeah, because, you know, the younger generation is always disrespectful. You know what I'm saying? So there are clashes. Most of the, most of the like beef came from gambling and sports. Now, how old are you when you got out?

30. I turned 30. 30 years old. What years is it like 20, 21? Yeah, 2021. 20, 21 you get home. So you make it through COVID in there? Yeah.

Okay. That was horrible. What was that like there? Bro. Because you were in the dorms for that. Bro, I caught COVID before we knew it was COVID. I'm talking about people were like, we were like definitely sick. Like I'm talking about like, why can we get over this flu?

My selling and I were like sick, sick. Like, like we. like in the bed like 12 hours out of the day only getting up to shower really quick and getting right back in bed like it was bad he he couldn't he went through the stuff where he couldn't taste anything and things like that i didn't go through that but when i got home in 2022 like no after i got home in 2021 in 2022 i called COVID no end of 2021 I caught COVID that's when I went through the couldn't smell, couldn't taste, all of that. Like, it was bad.

So what was your plan when you got out? Originally, I did a realtor course, right? I passed the realtor course but never went and took the test. And then, like, when I decided to want to take the test, like, six months later, I forgot everything I learned, like, for real. So I was just like, nah, let me not do that. So I started working. And then I just thought of entrepreneurship.

So I started a car rental business. I recommend people do not do that. too much of a liability, bro. It sucks. It could be lucrative if done the proper way. I didn't have a guide. I did not do it the proper way. So, no, just working hard.

Bro, I clocked out at, like, at one point, because of so many callouts on my job, I clocked out, like, 72 hours a week. Like, bro, as a busboy with a $1,900 after-taxed paycheck, and you get paid every week, just know you're putting in freaking hours, bro. Like, you know. So now the restaurant, you got arrested at, hired you back?

Yeah, and they helped pay for my legal team. Really? Wow. That's a good owner. Yeah, well, it's a couple owners. Yeah, but they love me, though. You know, I was the only black employee for a long time. You're a likable guy.

Appreciate it. I see why you did well with the escort service and the swingers. Bro, it's about, it's about just make your people feel comfortable. I work in Westport, bro. If you don't, I was, I'm like, when I was talking to your girl on her podcast, like she gets it, right? Especially in the service industry.

My thing is this, I have to relate to you to, like, the best that I can. And I take things on the chin and leave it at the restaurant. I don't go home with any comment that was said to me or any racism that I deal with. Because you have to understand, right? a lot of old people come from a different generation. I can't even say that they're racist for real. I feel like that's just what they know, right? So if they, if they'd be like, oh, you're a nice colored boy, you know?

Like, it's like, I get it, right? That was what was proper in your time. So, you know, and then you would have that liberal lady like, oh, my God, I'm offended. I'm like, how are you offended? You're not even black. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, but you just, you just take shit like, you know, And they'll be your best customer and become like one of your best friends.

You get what I'm saying? So I know how to talk to people. I'm very respectful. But I am myself, though. That's what people are like. I'm still myself. Like, bro, I'm talking about I have nothing but Spanish and white employees. And when I walk into work and everybody's right there, the first thing I say,

hey, what's up, niggas? And everybody's like, oh, oh, my God. Hi. You know, like, I just, that's me, though. You get what I'm saying? Like, I make everybody like, I put everybody in. position to feel uncomfortable, but like a good uncomfortable, like, oh, yo, he's crazy, he's nuts, you know what I'm saying? And you have to have a dark sense of humor to be in a

restaurant business in general. Has anyone, any of your customers ever recognize you from, like, the news? No, they recognize me from them being in the restaurant when I got arrested. They're like, well, the last time I seen you, you were in cuffs in that corner over there. Yeah. And I'm sure they followed the case, right? Yeah, like a lot of my customers wrote me. And they were okay with the charges and everything? I mean, I didn't do it at the time. You know what I mean? So they were like, oh, I remember Hooper was just like, listen,

I knew Lou for two years and he would never, never do something like that, you know? So it was a different, it was a different last time. It's crazy because it's bartender Steve. It wasn't, it's a bartender Steve, right, who was, I used to bar back for him. And I remember when he was, he was just like telling me a story. And he's just like, but he's like, I don't know why I'm telling you this. He's just like, you don't know anything about murder. And I'm like, you sure, Steve?

And I brought it up to Steve like a year ago. I like, Steve, remember when you said, I don't know nothing about killing somebody? Well, surprise. And then Steve was just like, yeah, whatever, Lou. Is it hard to navigate life when you have those charges all over the internet? Because when you search your name, it's everywhere. It's not like there's a follow-up article. So my thing is, I never like deny it.

You know, I never like, it depends on what you mean by navigate. I work in a restaurant industry. So that's not really a hard navigation, you know, because I was in, I was the original crew at the restaurant. So I was able to work at the restaurant. And then when it comes to other restaurants, it doesn't matter because I have the experience. And they'll take experience over your resume any, any day of the week. You know what I'm saying?

So in terms of navigating as a man, yes. So as a felon, you can't get. life insurance. You can't insure your jewelry. These are things that I don't even know about until you try to do it. You get what I'm saying. It's certain jobs that you can't get

that you're eliminated from the process. I started, when I got home, I was doing my prerequisites for the nursing program to be a nurse, only to find out that, so by law, they can't deny you into the nursing program for being a felon, but the hospital,

but you can't do your clinicals at the hospital because you won't pass their background check. So it's kind of like you're setting a false narrative. You're better off just saying you can't become a nurse as a felon. Just say that because to say that you could when you really can't, because you can't pass without clinicals and you won't pass the hospital does its own background check, not to school. The hospital that you'll do your clinicals at does its own background check.

So how in the world are you going to do clinicals when you can't even get into the hospital that does the clinical? So that was like kicking the butt. So what advice would you give to someone, that, you know, has their case blasted all over the internet and is having a hard time kind of navigating? Look into the restaurant business and entrepreneurship, right? And the trades. The trades, the trades, the trades. I'm going to, I'm interviewing for a apprenticeship, a carpentry apprenticeship. And I'm doing that because I have my general contracting license,

but I don't have a trade. So I have to subcontract most of the work. I want to be able to do the work. And not only that, reason why I'm doing an apprenticeship is because I want to not only do how to learn how to do the work properly, but also be able to train people that I hire into doing the work properly. So I know what kind of work is being done. So that's why the advice I give, trades, restaurant, business, and entrepreneurship. That's the way to navigate. And listen, you're going to fail 10 times before you achieve. So you can't get discouraged by failure. If you're the type that gets discouraged by failure, then it's not for you.

I'm a gambler, so I know how to lose. I could take losing on the chin, and you'd have to be able to do that in order to be successful, for sure. What do you think is the most important life lesson that, you know, all these stages in your life have taught you? Because you're someone that's experienced a lot of different aspects of life.

Okay. The biggest thing I learned was that everything you do has a consequence. That's for sure. So whether it's a good consequence is up to you, You get what I'm saying? Believe it or not, through the escorting, I was able to learn of a different side of humanity, like a whole different side of humanity to where like, it's really a dark underworld out there in a whole level.

But given that I was doing things that I never thought was even possible, also allowed me to become an actor, so to speak. So now I know how to deal with different levels of customers in the restaurant business because it's so much that I've seen, that's so much that I dealt with that I'd never dealt with before, that when hit with something new, I'm able to adapt to it very quickly.

So being in that world allowed me to be able to adapt quickly to things, no matter how crazy the situation. The consequence of that, Sheesh. Like my boy Ebank said, he knows a stripper nigga out to kill you. You know, so I can't, so there's certain things that you just, once you've done that, you can't live it down. You know what I'm saying?

Like it's just like, that's just what it is. But just there's consequences to everything you do. So try, in everything that you do, try to make it beneficial. There's two things in life. Assets and liabilities. What you should focus on is things. that creates assets, right, rather than focus on that things are liabilities. And if you look at life that way, your lifestyle will change completely.

You get what I'm saying? Like, that brand new car over owning a house won't make sense to you anymore. You get what I'm saying? When you think about assets and liabilities. Because the car is nothing but a liability that I depreciate. As in your house, the property vibe is going to go up eventually and you're, and for every time you pay mortgage, your asset, add it on to your equity.

That's the best advice I could give in life. Like, just know that everything comes with consequences. So it's just a matter of knowing what's worth it and what's not. Tell everyone about your podcast. Ooh, all right. Wait for this. So I have my podcast, all lines crossed. And I actually shoot in this studio because we lit over here.

It's about me just speaking my mind. And I have my co-host, Ali, who's on a few episodes. And I just speak my mind. I'm going to be more consistent. But we talk about, like, recent events. We talk about, like, listen, it might come off a little misogynistic, but it is what it is. Like, I feel like there's a, I feel like it's just,

it's the type of podcast that you're going to subscribe, but you won't repost if you're successful. You get what I'm saying? You'll subscribe and watch it with your boys, but to repost some of my content, if you're a lawyer, a doctor, whatever, probably not. It's for the swingers of the world. Yeah, it's for the,

swingers of the world and it's for the people that um i speak what others want to say but can't do to their positions in life you get what i'm saying and i'm and i'm and i'm real and i say to anybody offended by what i say first of all just understand it's my opinion right so that doesn't make it a fact but to anybody that's offended by what i say it's because it pertains to you that's all but you could definitely find me on YouTube at all lines crossed. I also have AL crossed, AL crossed pod on Instagram or IG, and I'll just put it so you could tag it and things like that. Yeah, we'll have the links. No, for sure. I have the links to all of it and definitely tap in. So this interview was just me and kicking it, go to my podcast, and I definitely want you to pop on my podcast. Yeah, 100%. We're going to talk

that talk for real. But yo, listen, I appreciate you having me. Of course, bro. I'm glad we were able to do this. This was a dope experience. Keep in mind, guys, I was supposed to meet up with this dude. We're talking about dinner a year ago, but he's a busy man. Nah, if I, I didn't really know the death to your story.

I would have had you on sooner. Oh, man. Yeah, Latisha and Matt were saying like, oh, yeah, he went to prison for murder. And I looked up your case. I was like, oh, shit. We've been sitting on a hidden gem this whole time. Nah, for sure. It was dope, man.

It was a dope experience. Never. Nah, for sure. And I'm happy we're able to do it. Yeah. So definitely you guys tap into all lines cars. Hopefully I'm going to have Ian on it soon. 100%.

Yeah, whatever you want. Awesome. Thank you, man. Appreciate you.