I Was Sentenced to Life in Prison at 16 — Then Spent 30 Years Inside | Carlee Collins

Richard Caruso is a former California correctional officer and Marine Corps veteran who helped expose one of the darkest scandals in American prison history. While working at Corcoran State Prison, he witnessed a system where rival inmates were allegedly deliberately placed together to fight, with guards sometimes using deadly force. After bringing evidence to the FBI, Caruso faced death threats, retaliation, and the destruction of his law enforcement career. He ultimately reached a $1.7 million settlement with California. Now he shares the disturbing reality of Corcoran's infamous "Gladiator Days," the price he paid for speaking out, and what happens when a prison guard turns against the system he once served. _____________________________________________ Thank you to GLD & AG1 for sponsoring this episode: GLD: New customers get 40% Off with code LOCKEDIN at https://www.gld.com/ _____________________________________________ AG1: Go to https://drinkag1.com/lockedin and for a limited time, get a free Immune Support Bundle, including a bottle of Omega-3 fish oil and a bottle of Vitamin D3K2, with your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro. _____________________________________________ Connect with Richard Caruso: https://www.facebook.com/share/1C9PuUb76u/?mibextid=wwXIfr _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: The Deadliest Prison 00:34 Richard Caruso's Early Life and Family 04:44 Joining the Marine Corps 09:00 Marine Corps Training and Graduation 11:49 Becoming a Correctional Officer 13:25 First Prison Job at Mule Creek 14:54 Transfer to Corcoran State Prison 17:00 Gladiator Fights at Corcoran 21:44 Sponsor Break: GLD Jewelry 23:12 Realization of Wrongdoing 26:42 Brother's Arrest and Change of Heart 29:20 Decision to Expose the Violence 35:54 Collecting Evidence and FBI Involvement 45:36 Sponsor Break: AG1 47:51 Meeting with the Warden 51:01 Protection from Inmates 52:56 Transfer to Vacaville and Lawsuit 56:09 Senate Hearings and Reforms 01:00:00 Governor's Involvement and Settlement 01:08:00 Federal Indictments and Trial 01:20:01 Video Evidence of Inmate Shooting 01:26:00 Reflections on Accountability 01:30:00 Prison Stories: Booty Bandit and Others 01:33:04 Making of the Movie 'Felon' 01:38:58 Charles Manson Stories 01:49:00 Philosophy on Hope and Redemption 01:54:00 Closing Thoughts and Legacy _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact [email protected] or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka

Eric Balliet spent more than 25 years as a federal law enforcement agent investigating some of the world's most dangerous drug cartels and criminal organizations. From patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border to helping capture notorious cartel leader El Chapo twice, Eric takes us inside the hidden world of drug trafficking, human smuggling, underground tunnels, and corruption. He also served as a top law enforcement advisor to the Secretary of Homeland Security under both Obama and Trump, giving him a rare perspective on what really happens behind the scenes at ICE, the border, and the highest levels of government. Now retired, Eric reveals the realities of fighting organized crime and the stories behind his book, Kingpins & Coyotes. _____________________________________________ Thank you to AG1 & GLD for sponsoring this episode: AG1: Go to https://drinkag1.com/lockedin and for a limited time, get a free Immune Support Bundle, including a bottle of Omega-3 fish oil and a bottle of Vitamin D3K2, with your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro. _____________________________________________ GLD: New customers get 40% Off with code LOCKEDIN at https://www.gld.com/ _____________________________________________ Connect with Eric Balliet: Website: https://www.kingpinsandcoyotes.com/bio Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H9JSVJT2?lv=shuf&bestFormat=true&channelId=704&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_C1GTVD3KQ35B9YVK5WES&plpRedirect=mhFallback LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-balliet/ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: 25 Years Chasing Cartels 00:00 Early Border Patrol Years 00:31 Growing Up in Syracuse 02:30 Finding Law Enforcement 05:40 College Years and Joining Border Patrol 28:00 Becoming an ICE Agent 31:30 Early ICE Career 34:20 The Main Drugs 39:20 Following a Vehicle 44:10 Playing Whack-a-Mole with Stash Houses 47:00 Life Inside a Cartel 50:00 Cartel Comms Evolution 51:20 Cartel Communication 55:00 Cartel's Desert Scouts 56:10 Cartel Counter-Intel and Comms 57:00 Why Interdiction Fails 59:00 How Cartels Absorb Losses 01:01:10 Inside Cartel Recruitment and Crews 01:02:40 Violence on the US Side 01:05:00 Cartel's Stance on Law Enforcement 01:06:00 Cartel Human Smuggling Networks 01:08:00 How Cartels Tax Human Smugglers 01:11:40 US Border Security Failures 01:13:40 The 'Carry Her' Intercept 01:16:20 Terrorists on the Border 01:19:40 ICE's Shift to Civil Enforcement 01:24:40 Kingpins vs. Kingdoms 01:26:40 Dismantling the Kingdom 01:28:30 Corruption and Convictions 01:30:50 Why Banks Turn a Blind Eye 01:32:50 Not a Winning Battle 01:35:50 Public Misconceptions 01:44:00 What Comes Now 01:46:50 The Book and the Next Chapter _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact [email protected] or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka

Corvain Cooper grew up surrounded by the drug game before finding his own way into the streets, starting with fraud before eventually becoming a major player in marijuana trafficking. What began small grew into a massive operation shipping marijuana from California across state lines, until federal authorities took it down and prosecutors tied the conspiracy to more than 35 tons of weed. Corvain was ultimately sentenced to mandatory life in federal prison, where he faced the reality that he might never come home. He shares how the operation grew, what led to his downfall, surviving a life sentence, and the fight for freedom that eventually led to President Donald Trump commuting his sentence in 2021. _____________________________________________ Thank you to GLD & AG1 for sponsoring this episode: GLD: New customers get 40% Off with code LOCKEDIN at https://www.gld.com/ _____________________________________________ AG1: Go to https://drinkag1.com/lockedin and for a limited time, get a free Immune Support Bundle, including a bottle of Omega-3 fish oil and a bottle of Vitamin D3K2, with your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro. _____________________________________________ Connect with Corvain Cooper: Website: https://linkin.bio/40tonsbrand/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corvaincooper/?hl=en _____________________________________________ Want to support Locked In and help us keep bringing you these stories? Become a member and get bonus episodes, ad-free listening, exclusive content + a FREE welcome box. Join now: https://lockedin.supportingcast.fm/ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: Corvain Cooper's Life Sentence 00:42 Growing Up in South Central LA 03:32 Childhood Influence and Parents' Addiction 05:34 Young Corvain's Hustle and White-Collar Crime 08:23 Getting Into the Streets 11:00 Juvenile Detention and Learning Discipline 13:34 Fake Rim Company and Fraud Schemes 16:03 Transition to Marijuana Trafficking 23:15 Partnerships and Risk in Drug Game 27:00 Legalization and Incarceration for Marijuana 33:34 Expansion to Charlotte and Things Heat Up 37:00 Betrayal and Losses in Charlotte 40:00 Arrest and Trial Preparation 44:00 Charges and Conspiracy Law 48:00 Trial and Conviction 54:00 Sentencing and Life in Prison 01:01:00 Clemency and Release 01:06:00 Life in USP Atwater and Pollock 01:11:00 Prison Survival and Discipline 01:16:00 Post-Release Life and Advocacy 01:25:00 Reflections and Lessons Learned _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact [email protected] or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka

Brendan Thomas returns to Locked In with Ian Bick, but this time he's sharing a completely different side of his life. After six years working as an EMT in Connecticut, Brendan has responded to emergencies most people could never imagine. From heartbreaking calls and disturbing scenes to the moments that still haunt him, he opens up about the reality of being a first responder, the emotional toll of witnessing tragedy, and what it's like carrying those experiences long after the shift ends. This episode takes you behind the ambulance doors to reveal a side of emergency medicine the public rarely gets to hear about. _____________________________________________ Watch part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24JRbCS9_L8 _____________________________________________ Connect with Brendan Thomas: https://www.instagram.com/bthomas_860?mdxt=YXBuaDZubjZoZ2Nu _____________________________________________ Tired of ads interrupting the podcast? Become a Locked In member and listen completely ad-free — plus get bonus episodes, exclusive content & a FREE welcome box. Join now: https://lockedin.supportingcast.fm/ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:43 Brendan's Background 03:31 EMT vs Paramedic 04:55 Night Shifts 07:02 Choosing Hospitals 07:53 Types of Calls 09:41 Ambulance Speed 12:03 First Time Driving 14:00 Heart-Racing Calls 17:04 Early Career Trauma 19:02 Emotional Toll 21:49 PTSD and Coping 23:43 Motorcycle Accident 28:54 Following Up on Calls 31:28 Motorcycle Accidents 33:00 Lucky Motorcyclist 34:41 Unnecessary Calls 35:45 Silly Calls 38:30 Hoarder House 43:38 Decomposed Bodies 45:46 Rude Patients 47:28 Grateful Patient 50:57 Unsafe Scenes 53:16 Fights with Kids 57:24 Lying Patients 58:40 Fentanyl Overdoses 59:59 Choking Calls 01:02:13 School Incidents 01:03:36 Public Misconceptions 01:04:07 Job Toll 01:06:31 Burnout and Relapse 01:09:17 Recovery and Therapy 01:12:13 Closing _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact [email protected] or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka

Million Dolla $mile went from the streets of Queens and running with the G-Unit crew to being sentenced to 20 years in New York State prison for a conspiracy to kill a cop. After serving 16½ years, he opens up about surviving prison, practicing Islam behind the walls, and rebuilding his life through music after coming home. _____________________________________________ Connect with Million Dolla $mile: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milliondollasmile_ny/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MillionDollaSmile Website: https://linktr.ee/milliondollasmile _____________________________________________ Want a FREE Locked In welcome box? Become a member and get the box + bonus episodes, ad-free listening & exclusive content. Join here: https://lockedin.supportingcast.fm/ _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://ianbick.com/ _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: The Million-Dollar Smile 00:34 Growing Up in South Jamaica, Queens 04:19 Discovering Boxing and Learning to Fight 09:39 Teenage Robberies and Juvenile Detention 11:41 The Conspiracy Case and Attica 14:04 Childhood Dreams Before Prison 15:40 Early Cases and Returning to the Streets 16:56 Meeting 50 Cent and Joining G-Unit 20:55 Life on 134th and Learning from Lloyd Banks 25:00 Getting Played and Connecting with Domination 28:00 Best Friend Shot: The Aftermath 32:54 The Case That Led to 16 Years 35:00 High-Profile Inmate at CMC 38:00 Going to Trial and Getting the Max 40:18 Plea Deal and Consecutive Sentences 43:20 Prison Politics and Choosing a Side 47:39 Arriving at Attica 49:50 Violence in Attica 51:40 Transfer to Sing Sing and Prison Business 53:51 The Muslim Community in Prison 59:30 Muslim Policies on Sex Offenders and Snitches 01:00:28 Gang Members Converting to Islam 01:02:00 Muslims vs. Bloods in New York Prisons 01:03:40 Relationships with Female Guards 01:04:08 Transferring Prisons and Honor Block 01:05:30 Murder Over a Slap in Honor Block 01:09:56 Focusing on Education and Mentors 01:11:40 Music and Carnegie Hall in Prison 01:13:05 Marriage and Children in Prison 01:14:30 Release and Adjustment to Modern Life 01:17:20 Creating the Main Smile Character 01:19:30 Views on the Music Industry and G-Unit 01:21:00 Life After Prison: Work and Finances 01:23:50 Advice to Younger Self and Reflections 01:26:00 Dreams of Leaving New York 01:27:20 Closing Remarks _____________________________________________ To advertise on the show, contact [email protected] or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/LockedInWithIanBicka