Preparing people in the UK for the American federal prison system.
I'm an American prison consultant who has been there, and would love to help.
I served time at FCI Miami. I know what it's like to wonder how you'll get through this, and how your family will. If you're in the UK facing the American system, the distance makes it worse: foreign rules, foreign procedures, a family an ocean away. I help take that away.
I've been married almost 40 years. I have two adult children. I understand what's at stake for you, because I've lived it. My job is to make sure you know what is actually coming, from extradition through designation to release, so you can prepare instead of imagine.
I tell my clients what I wish someone had told me.
If you would rather read the record than my version of it, Prisonpedia's entry on my case lays out the charge, the sentence, and the time I served at FCI Miami.
Three guides to read before anything else.
We can help whether you're facing extradition, pre-sentence, currently serving, or working on coming home.
Extradition & Surrender
For UK nationals facing US charges: preparing for surrender, arraignment and the 90 days after arrival, alongside your UK solicitor and US counsel.
Prison Preparation
Complete preparation for what to expect, what to bring, and how to handle the first days inside an American institution.
Sentence Mitigation
Working with your legal team to pursue every option for reducing your sentence before you surrender.
Federal Clemency
Guidance on clemency petitions, commutations, and pardons. A real path to a second chance.
Family Advisory
Helping your spouse, children, and loved ones understand what comes next and how to stay connected from the UK.
RDAP & Sentence Reduction
Maximising eligibility for RDAP, First Step Act time credits and every lawful route to coming home sooner.
Backed by an experienced federal prison consulting team.
Families come to Sam at the worst moment of their lives. Here is what they say afterward.
He walked us through the PSR report and took over our character reference letter effort so that they could really make a big difference. His team gave each writer a specific lane. […] He squashed three letters that were beautiful but wouldn’t have helped with the judge (who is the only person that really matters in this process!). […] Sam also helped with making sure that my husband was placed in the right facility for his heart condition and helped make sure that the facility was aware of his medications/medical needs.
I’m a criminal defense attorney who has referred two clients to Sam for post-sentencing work in an attempt to minimize the time away from their families. Both are now home earlier than they would have been otherwise. Both of them told me that they really appreciate that Sam listens. He and his team will sit on the phone with a spouse, asking about the kids and that sort of thing.
Have questions? We're here to help.
Recognised as a leading expert on the American federal prison system.
How Sam Prepared Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro for Federal Prison
What Luigi Mangione's Guilty Plea Means Inside the BOP
BLOOMBERG
SBF Parents Seek Trump Pardon
PEOPLE
Luigi Mangione Behind Bars
VANITY FAIR
Maduro's First 48 Hours
POLITICO
Trump Pardons Analysis
How I Became a Prison Consultant
"The Fixer" - Feature Story
The Jingle of Keys
American prison guides written for UK defendants and families.
Extradited to the United States: The Prison Guide UK Families Need First
What happens between a UK extradition order and a bed in a US federal institution, and where preparation changes the outcome.
The Treaty Track: How UK-US Extradition Cases Actually Reach a Federal Courtroom
From Home Office certification to surrender, and what happens after arrival.
The 90 Days After Extradition: What Happens When You Reach America
US Marshals custody, arraignment, remand, and the machine that starts turning the day you land.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from UK clients about the American system and working with Sam Mangel.
Can a UK citizen serve a US federal prison sentence?
Yes. UK nationals extradited to, or charged in, the United States serve their sentences in Federal Bureau of Prisons institutions. Most first-time, non-violent defendants score into camps or low-security facilities. Transfer back to a UK prison under the treaty scheme is possible but rare, so preparing for the American system is the realistic path.
What does a prison consultant do for a UK defendant?
A federal prison consultant works alongside your solicitor and US counsel on everything the courts do not cover: presentence report preparation, facility designation strategy, RDAP eligibility, prison preparation, and family support across the distance. The full breakdown is on the federal prison consultant page.
When should someone in the UK engage Sam Mangel?
At extradition proceedings, at indictment, or the moment a US plea becomes likely. The presentence report and designation decisions that shape the entire sentence happen quickly, and preparation before them matters most.
Why choose Sam Mangel over other prison consultants?
Sam served a federal sentence himself, is a regular CNN and NPR contributor, and has worked on the most significant federal cases of recent years including Steve Bannon, Peter Navarro, and Sam Bankman-Fried. He works with UK-based clients remotely from sentencing through release.
Ready to discuss your situation?
Every case is unique. A confidential consultation is the best way to understand how we can help, wherever you are in the UK.