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Many Israelis do business in the United States every day—whether through a strategic partnership, working in high-tech, a Delaware-registered entity, or by handling funds that passed through American banks.
Some have had the unfortunate experience of operating, business as usual, and being surprised by a sealed indictment filed quietly in an American courtroom 6,000 miles away.
Suddenly, the phone calls start. Lawyers speak in fast, unfamiliar legal terms.
The pressure builds. And a sinking feeling takes hold: you may not be ready for what comes next.
This is where Sam Mangel thrives. After all, he knows better than anyone.
Mangel’s life took an unexpected turn in 2016 when FBI agents arrived unannounced at his Florida home, beginning his passage through the U.S. federal justice system. After being remanded into custody without the chance to prepare or self-report to prison, he discovered the brutal truth many white-collar defendants face: even the best legal teams often fail to prepare you for what prison is actually like.
Today, Mangel draws upon that experience to guide others through the federal criminal process. His advice covers everything lawyers typically don’t: emotional preparation, strategizing which prison you’ll be sent to, family communication, and the internal workings of the Bureau of Prisons.
He’s worked with political advisors, executives, physicians, and founders caught in high-stakes investigations ranging from securities fraud and tax evasion to cybercrime and healthcare fraud, a practice which has made Sam Mangel a voice trusted by CNN and other national outlets to provide commentary on the U.S. federal justice system.
For Israelis facing U.S. federal charges, the stress is compounded by distance, language, confusion, and cultural dissonance. It’s one thing to be under investigation in your own country; it’s something else entirely when you’re thousands of miles away from the courtroom, trying to understand a legal process you’ve never encountered.
Even with a capable American attorney, the experience of navigating federal charges from Israel can feel like operating in the dark, and the legal jeopardy is only part of the story. That’s why individuals facing charges in the states need a good federal prison consultant on their legal team.
Many sentence mitigation programs available to American inmates, such as the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), which can reduce a sentence by up to a year, are unavailable or severely restricted for foreign nationals. Halfway house placements, early release mechanisms, and even facility transfers that are routine for citizens may also be denied to someone without an American passport.
Mangel helps with matters beyond the incarcerated individual, too: when a foreign national is incarcerated in the U.S., it can be extremely challenging emotionally, logistically, and financially.
Mangel helps prepare families for what to expect, helping them to stay connected during incarceration, offering peace of mind that someone is fighting for them – someone who knows the system inside and out, and who won’t disappear once the sentence is handed down.
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