1 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: It was April fourth, twenty twenty two. I had to 2 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,639 Speaker 1: go meet Ray at his place. Today was the most 3 00:00:12,680 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: important day of his life. 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 2: Big day. 5 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: Ray's gone to fucking court. 6 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 3: I'm about to pick him up right now. 7 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: As I drove down the belt Parkway to Raise Duplex 8 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: in Atlantic Beach, I couldn't stop thinking about what our 9 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: lives would look like tomorrow. I had no idea if 10 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:35,959 Speaker 1: he would be coming over the next day, or if 11 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: I would be seeing him through Plexiglass putting money in 12 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: his commissary fund. Until we're both old and gray. 13 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 3: The destination is on your left. 14 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:46,240 Speaker 2: Pulling up to Raise. 15 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: Now here we go. I decided to record everything that day. 16 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: As I pulled up, I saw him pacing outside, shirtless, 17 00:00:56,200 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: vaping while on the phone as he yelled some unexpected news. 18 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: See right, No, Ray just dropped a bomb. His wife's 19 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:06,479 Speaker 1: water broke. 20 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:08,400 Speaker 4: That's fucking crazy. 21 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: You gotta go to the hospital. This would only happen 22 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: to Ray on the day he would learn his fate. 23 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 1: His wife went into labor. Just like his sentence, Ray's 24 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: second child was being delivered. 25 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 4: Today. 26 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: I'm Johnny be Good and this is creating a con 27 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: The story of Bitcom episode nine Pinnacle of Criminality. When 28 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 1: we started this podcast, Ray hadn't been sentenced for his 29 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 1: crimes at Center Tech yet. He was ready to tell 30 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: a story, but he had to be patient. Over three 31 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: years past since he had been arrested, and it had 32 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 1: been almost a year since his partner Sam Sharma was 33 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: put behind bars for his crimes at Center Tech. Ray 34 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: thought this chapter of his life would be closed by now, 35 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 1: whether he was in prison or free. Instead, he's been 36 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: waiting as the Southern District courts continuously delayed his sentencing. 37 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 1: There were plenty of reasons for the delay. First, Robert 38 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: Farcus and Sam Sharma pled out in twenty twenty. The 39 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 1: government wouldn't close Ray's case until the FEDS new his 40 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: two co founders were behind bars, And there was also 41 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: that whole global pandemic thing that pretty much put New 42 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: York on lockdown. This moment in Ray's life is around 43 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: the time we started recording this podcast. In fact, what 44 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,959 Speaker 1: you're about to hear is day one of recording. Ray 45 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: and I were in the car while our producers tell us, I'll. 46 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 2: Drive through like the west end of Long Beach. Even 47 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 2: behind me, I forgot they're behind where. 48 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 3: They're behind you. 49 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 2: I thought they I'm frying. 50 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 3: Well, no, they stopped them on they go in front. 51 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 1: As we took them through our hometown. Ray reminisced about 52 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 1: his life between his arrest and today. During those three years, 53 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: a lot happened to my best friend. It was in 54 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:24,399 Speaker 1: July of twenty nineteen, two years after he joined Center Tech, 55 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: that Ray was living with his mom in Virginia. 56 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 3: But he got super depressed. 57 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 2: I'm like, fucking, I'm gonna move back to New York 58 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 2: and live in my family because at least I know 59 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 2: people in New York that would come visit me. In Virginia, 60 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 2: I don't know anybody, just my mom lives there. 61 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 1: I was trying to convince him to move back home 62 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: at this point. Others had a vested interest too. 63 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 2: My case is in New York, so like the prosecutors 64 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 2: wanted me to move back here. 65 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: Anyways, the Feds wanted Ray close to their offices to 66 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: cooperate against his former partners. I was living in New 67 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: York at this point. Come back to New York. I 68 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 1: told him it'll be just like old times, but it was. 69 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: Ray was more restricted, was. 70 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 2: On house rush, couldn't even leave the house. At all 71 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 2: worse fucking experience in my life. 72 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 1: Once he did that for a year, they loosened the 73 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: reins a bit. 74 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 2: They're like, oh, well, you know, put you on curfew, 75 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 2: and curfew you're like allowed out from like seven in 76 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,239 Speaker 2: the morning till eleven at night, which is pretty fair. 77 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 2: That's like when I was just starting to go out 78 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 2: and I was like, at least I'd be able to 79 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 2: get some pussy. 80 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 1: It was nothing like his Knights in Miami. But Ray 81 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: started to get back out there. 82 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 3: Pretty soon after I was put on curfew. 83 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: I met my wife, and the way they met, I 84 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 1: wouldn't call it your average love story. It's actually pretty crazy. 85 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 1: See when Ray met his wife to be Kim, they 86 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: were both waiting for their respective dates at a bar. 87 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 3: We saw each other and we both told that people 88 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 3: who were needing to not come. 89 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:56,920 Speaker 1: That night in a bar called Bricks. Things progressed quickly. 90 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 2: It was funny, like I seen her at first and 91 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 2: like I was just like, oh, she's hot. I knew 92 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 2: she was like fucking maga's eye contact, like opposite ends 93 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 2: of the bar. She was like biting her straw and shit, 94 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,720 Speaker 2: and I was like dripping my pizza, like into my mouth, 95 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 2: so like we were like fucking with each other. And 96 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 2: then I went up to talk to her, and I 97 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 2: was just like telling her my whole story, because you know, 98 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 2: I just had a point where life. I was on 99 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 2: house arrest for so long that I hadn't talked to anybody, 100 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,720 Speaker 2: so like I kind of just like vomiting everything I 101 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 2: had done in my. 102 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 1: Life, vomiting everything he's done in his life. That conversation 103 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: had to be electric. I could totally see Ray trying 104 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 1: to pick this girl up while coming clean about his 105 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: current situation. Yeah, I'm actually a homebody these days. You 106 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: caught me on my one night out. I'm usually in 107 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 1: bed by eleven due to my court ordered curfew. What 108 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: do I do for work? I started my own company. 109 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: We made millions, but I had to give it all 110 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,359 Speaker 1: back for you know, a little bit of fraud and 111 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,919 Speaker 1: misappropriating funds. What do I like to do for fun? 112 00:05:57,839 --> 00:05:59,799 Speaker 1: You ever sniffed his zan off a stripper's ass? 113 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:01,680 Speaker 2: I had an ankle brace it on, So like you 114 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 2: have to kind of tell someone your whole story simulated 115 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 2: you're gonna be naked, and like I kind of knew you. 116 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,479 Speaker 1: Kind of get that vibe good thing for Ray. It 117 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: didn't scare, it came off and once he got that 118 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: little detail out of the way, the night progressed. 119 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 2: Went to the little Irish part like they're playing like 120 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 2: Sweet Caroline. 121 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 3: It's like, well that wackman. She goes to jukeboxing, put 122 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 3: six nine up like screams, you know, just like fuck 123 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 3: and ruined. 124 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:32,119 Speaker 2: The whole vibe. 125 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 3: And that was like when I was like, I love 126 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 3: this girl. 127 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: That night in that little Irish bar in Long Beach, 128 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: with six ' nine blaring behind them, Ray and Kim 129 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 1: fell in love. 130 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 2: I almost missed curfew the first night I met Kim. 131 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 1: I got a handed to the guy. Even with his 132 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 1: court impose eleven PM curfew and a stylish ankle monitor, 133 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:54,239 Speaker 1: he managed to land his future wife. 134 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,280 Speaker 2: People always sit to her how they would have ran 135 00:06:57,400 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 2: so far the other way if they would have saw. 136 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: That Kime as a teacher, an educator and a thief 137 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:06,920 Speaker 1: sounds like a real power couple to me. And wouldn't 138 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 1: you know it, they were spending every day together. I 139 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: knew she was the one for Ray when she looked 140 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 1: past the ten felonies, the ankle monitor and the lengthy 141 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: prison sentence hanging over him. Many would see Ray as 142 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: just another frog, but Kim found her prince charming. 143 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 2: We just like fell in love quick and the rest 144 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 2: is kind of history in that regard. 145 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 1: During the summer of twenty twenty, those crazy kids tied 146 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 1: the knot on a beach in Long Island, and in 147 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:39,480 Speaker 1: that same week they'd celebrate another big moment in their. 148 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 2: Lives, John, my first son. 149 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: That's right, four days after they exchanged vows, they welcomed 150 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 1: their first son, John into the world. I never thought 151 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 1: I'd see the day when Ray was a husband, much 152 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: less a dad, But here we are. 153 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 2: It was just so beautiful, like such a cool thing. 154 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 2: Seemed like your life right, like you made that life. 155 00:07:59,600 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 2: It was all. 156 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: But instead of planning there happily ever after, they were 157 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 1: stuck because Ray's sentencing had been postponed time and time again. 158 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 1: Neither of them would admit it, but I can't imagine 159 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: that planning a life together with Ray's looming trial was easy. 160 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: They found themselves in illegal purgatory. 161 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 2: The first four times they got delayed was because the 162 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 2: prosecutors delayed it, and then the last two times were 163 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 2: because of the judge. So, like, what the fuck is 164 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 2: going on? 165 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 4: Here. 166 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:32,719 Speaker 1: All of those delays were getting into Ray's head. 167 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 5: He gets anxious, He gets depressed just not knowing what 168 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 5: his future is supposed to be or what. 169 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:40,839 Speaker 6: It will be. 170 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 1: That's our childhood friend, Mara. 171 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 5: It's not in his hands. So I think that's the 172 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 5: scary concept. He was like, I'm pretty sure that I'm 173 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 5: going to be going to jail. I hope there's no 174 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,679 Speaker 5: jail time, but I feel like that's a tall ask. 175 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:00,839 Speaker 1: We'd all get our answers. On April fourth, twenty twenty two, 176 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: that's when Raised sentencing day finally arrived. Ray and Kim 177 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 1: had been waiting for months at this point. During that time, 178 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 1: they moved in together, were raising their son John, and 179 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 1: Kim was pregnant with their second child. They went to 180 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: bed that night anxious to learn what tomorrow would bring. 181 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 1: That morning started like any other. But if you haven't 182 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: learned by now, nothing in Raised life goes according to plan. 183 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 2: Kim, my wife, she was basically just like, I think 184 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 2: my water broke, Like I don't know, and it's like, yeah, 185 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 2: your water definitely broke. 186 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: Kim's due date for their second child wasn't for another 187 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: few weeks. Suddenly, Rai's sentencing day became a lot more complicated. 188 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 2: That's what, like crazy circumstances, like a stress and whatnot, 189 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 2: like that shit will happen. 190 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 1: We drove to the courthouse together that day. Here's audio 191 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 1: from that drive. 192 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:00,559 Speaker 2: I dropped my son to her sis there. Then I 193 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 2: dropped her at the hospital. Her whole family's like there 194 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 2: though that she's all good. What did your lawyer say? 195 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 3: I'm not telling him because don't want him to try 196 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 3: to reschedule anything. 197 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 2: That's all. 198 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:14,959 Speaker 1: When I see him, Ray and Kim did not want 199 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 1: to postpone that hearing come hell or his wife's broken water. 200 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 2: I remember just putting on like Bob Marley in the car, 201 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 2: not don't worry, not don't worry. It was the sun 202 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 2: is shining, and I was like, the sun is shining 203 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 2: the outside. But like it was just my moodsetter for 204 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 2: that day, just to like remain calm. 205 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 7: He was laboring under the very real chance of being 206 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 7: imprisoned that day. 207 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: That's Rai's lawyer, Joe Bondi. Bondi is a decorated defense attorney. 208 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: He's represented the gam Be No crime family and more recently, 209 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:58,439 Speaker 1: associates of Rudy Giuliani. He's also one of the nation's 210 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 1: leading weed lawyers. According to The High Times, Joseph A. 211 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 1: Bondi is one of the nation's pre eminent cannabis attorneys, 212 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: or so his website says. And now he was representing 213 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:12,959 Speaker 1: Ray or Panny. 214 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 7: We're all like blades of grass. You're all like a 215 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 7: plant that's gonna winer, and you're so fragile. 216 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 3: And there you. 217 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 7: Are in this really metaphorical judgment day, asking a person 218 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 7: with power represents our country to temper their sense of 219 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,320 Speaker 7: justice with their sense of mercy. 220 00:11:34,760 --> 00:11:38,439 Speaker 1: I see why stoners love him. And by the way, Joe, 221 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: it wasn't a metaphorical judgment day. It was Ray's actual 222 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: judgment day. If you mix together one part badass criminal 223 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: defense lawyer with one part poet, you'll get Joe Bondi. 224 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: And on that fateful day, Joe followed a raise lead. 225 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:57,439 Speaker 7: He had an enormous amount going on, but with all 226 00:11:57,480 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 7: of the weight of the world upon him, we decided 227 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 7: we would not try to adjourn the hearing. 228 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 3: We would try to have our sentence. 229 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 1: The same judge who sentenced to Robert Farkas and Sam 230 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 1: Sharma was presiding over raised sentencing. Judge Lorna Schofield. Just 231 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 1: like the last episode, we hired voice actors to read 232 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:19,960 Speaker 1: for the judge and prosecutor. 233 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,880 Speaker 8: We're here today to impost sentence in the case of 234 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 8: the United States versus Raymond Trapani. 235 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 2: You know, my brother showed up in his construction clothes. 236 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 2: My dad showed up in his construction My mom was there, 237 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 2: my grandma was there, my aunts were there, my friends 238 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 2: were there. I was like, all right, Like everybody that's 239 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 2: supposed to be here is here. Like I wanted as 240 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 2: many people as possible. If there's no one there, then 241 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 2: everybody gave up on your already. So having some people 242 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 2: in the gallery was definitely helpful. 243 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: With Ray's mind split between his future and Kim being 244 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 1: in labor, I'm sure he wondered if he'd ever be 245 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,199 Speaker 1: able to hold his new baby without shackles around his wrists. 246 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: Raised anxiety with sky high as legal proceedings inside the 247 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: courtroom got started. 248 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 8: This is your fourth criminal conviction, with previous convictions for 249 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 8: disorderly conduct, creating a hazardous or physically offensive condition, as 250 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 8: well as perjury and other crimes. Everything I've said so 251 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 8: far does not paint a very good picture. Obviously, on 252 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 8: the other hand, I knew you had a very difficult upbringing. 253 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: Judge Schofield made a point to those in the courtroom 254 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 1: that growing up in ab wasn't easy for Rachel Panning. 255 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:35,040 Speaker 8: I understand you began smoking marijuana at age thirteen. You 256 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:37,200 Speaker 8: were in a car accident when you were sixteen and 257 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:40,199 Speaker 8: had to have multiple surgeries to your face. You were 258 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:43,079 Speaker 8: prescribed oxy content for pain, which led to an addiction, 259 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 8: and ultimately you're dropping out of high school. 260 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 1: Yeah. I remember that accident. It wasn't pretty. The local 261 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: autobody shop kept the car out on the corner. It 262 00:13:56,040 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 1: was a miracle anyone survived. Direct and she's ripe. That 263 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:02,760 Speaker 1: is how Ray got hooked on pills. 264 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,080 Speaker 8: During much of your twenties. I understand you were addicted 265 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 8: to opiates and xanax. He also had a gambling addiction, 266 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 8: and you attempted rehabilitation. 267 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 1: I think we thoroughly covered this part of Ray's life, 268 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,440 Speaker 1: but there was one piece of Ray's childhood the judge 269 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: didn't bring up. By this point, I thought I even 270 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: knew every little detail about Ray's life. Apparently I was wrong. 271 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: Here's the thing about Ray. He seems like an open book, 272 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 1: but he's not. There was a secret he'd been carrying 273 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: for years, and the reason he didn't tell anyone, ironically, 274 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: is because he thought everyone already knew. 275 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:42,840 Speaker 2: My sexual clock was always fucked up. Is a shit 276 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 2: that happened to me as a kid. If she hadn't 277 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 2: molested at like eight years old. 278 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 1: And for legal reasons, we're not going to name the 279 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:53,360 Speaker 1: person who molested Ray, but what this person did to 280 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: him began at the age of eight and continued for years. 281 00:14:57,720 --> 00:14:59,880 Speaker 3: I always felt like I was living at the Truman Show. 282 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 2: I was like, Oh, this fucked up shit's happened to me, 283 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 2: and like everybody was able to see what was going on, 284 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 2: but no one's even reacting on it. Even when I 285 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:10,120 Speaker 2: told my family recently, I was like, I always thought 286 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 2: that you guys knew, and they're. 287 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: Like one gride one this. When that you know, it's like, 288 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 1: I guess maybe they didn't, you know. He was telling 289 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 1: me about everything, and I had no idea. He thought 290 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 1: we all knew, but we weren't saying anything as kids, 291 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 1: which is like, I had no fucking no idea, But 292 00:15:27,640 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 1: I guess it does make sense. He was like a 293 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: normal kid, and then one day he was not a 294 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 1: normal kid, and like, instead of being like, hey, something 295 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: happened to this kid, the teachers are like. 296 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 4: This kid's he's all fucked up. 297 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: He doesn't pay attention. 298 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 4: Fuck them. 299 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 1: I imagine these thoughts weighed heavily on Ray during his sentencing. 300 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 1: Would he have been in the courtroom standing in front 301 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 1: of Judge Schofield if his childhood was different? I can't 302 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 1: help but think what could have been if none of 303 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 1: this happened to him. Would Ray have graduated high school, 304 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: gone off to college with me? Would we be running 305 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 1: a business together. There are certain things in life you 306 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 1: just never know. It was April fourth, twenty twenty two 307 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 1: when I found myself standing behind my best friend, a 308 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: career colm artist, on the day of his judgment. It 309 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 1: was a long one, one Ray would never forget. After 310 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 1: leading the gallery through cliff notes of Ray's life, Judge 311 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: Scofield was ready to get to the heart of it 312 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 1: all raised crimes. 313 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 8: Mister Japanni pleaded guilty to ten counts conspiracy to commit 314 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 8: securities fraud, securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud. 315 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 1: The first four counts Judge Scofield's read were charges stemming 316 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: from centritech. The final six those were new charges connected 317 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 1: to ilegal behavior Ray admitted to while cooperating with the FEDS. 318 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:05,439 Speaker 8: Obstruction of justice to counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 319 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:08,200 Speaker 8: a substantive wire fraud count. 320 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,439 Speaker 1: You see, when Ray entered into a cooperation agreement with 321 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:15,239 Speaker 1: the government, he had to come clean about everything, and 322 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 1: that was a huge gamble. By admitting to his lifetime 323 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:22,159 Speaker 1: of criminal activity, Ray was facing charges for crimes that 324 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:23,960 Speaker 1: prosecutors would have never known about. 325 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 8: Fell on in possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to 326 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:32,000 Speaker 8: distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics. 327 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 1: Not including his Center charges. Ray was being charged for 328 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 1: selling drugs in high school, distributing narcotics with his prescription 329 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 1: pad scheme, and ripping off Venmo to name a few, 330 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,159 Speaker 1: not to mention the millions of dollars in restitution the 331 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: civil suit brought on by the SEC or the class 332 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 1: action suit brought by censer investors. But let's take it 333 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 1: one case at a time. 334 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 8: The guidelines recommendation and and this case is one hundred 335 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 8: and twenty one to one hundred and fifty one months, 336 00:18:06,640 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 8: which is equal to a little over ten years to 337 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 8: over twelve years imprisonment. 338 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:14,200 Speaker 1: But she made it clear she was under no obligation 339 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:15,640 Speaker 1: to stick to those guidelines. 340 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 8: Under the statute, I can sentence mister Trapawni to a 341 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 8: far greater sentence. The maximum term of imprisonment on count 342 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 8: one is five years. 343 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 2: He was trying to add up the fucking mounts and 344 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:32,200 Speaker 2: it was just like out of this world. 345 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:37,919 Speaker 8: On counts two through eight, and ten is twenty years 346 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:38,680 Speaker 8: per count. 347 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 2: When she was reading it, you can just see in 348 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 2: her face and the way she was saying that she 349 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 2: had this inability to comprehend how it's that much time. 350 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 8: You know. 351 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 2: All I'm thinking is just like get to that end point. 352 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 8: The maximum term of imprisonment is one hundred and seventy 353 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:56,160 Speaker 8: five years. 354 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:59,879 Speaker 1: I can't imagine how Ray was feeling. He was betting 355 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:02,400 Speaker 1: and his cooperation deal being his get out of jail 356 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:05,399 Speaker 1: free card, but then he's hearing all these years of 357 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 1: prison time adding up. His mind must have been racing, like. 358 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:11,120 Speaker 2: I know I fucked up. I know I did something wrong. 359 00:19:11,240 --> 00:19:13,399 Speaker 3: Take whatever money it is. I just don't want to 360 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 3: go to jail. 361 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 2: I've done everything that would typically be asked of somebody 362 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 2: that gets in trouble and admitted my wrongdoing and trying 363 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 2: to move forward in my life. 364 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 1: Seated across from Ray and his lawyer was the same 365 00:19:27,320 --> 00:19:33,000 Speaker 1: person who prosecuted Sam Sharma and Robert Farcas Nagar Techie. 366 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 9: Your Honor, there can be no question that mister Trapwi's 367 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 9: crimes were very serious. However, mister Trapani's cooperation has been 368 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 9: nothing short of extraordinary and frankly critical to the convictions 369 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 9: and sentencings of his co defendants in this case. 370 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:52,560 Speaker 1: Even the judge seemed surprised by that one. 371 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 8: I'm not sure I've ever heard the word extraordinary use 372 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 8: in connection with cooperation. 373 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:00,479 Speaker 1: Then came the opportunity for rad I speak. 374 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 8: Mister Trapani. You don't have to speak, but now is 375 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 8: the time if you would like to. 376 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 2: I'm like anxious. This is the biggest moment of my life. 377 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 3: Your Honor. 378 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:20,640 Speaker 2: Today is a very heavy day for me. I'm sorry 379 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:26,679 Speaker 2: if I don't seem composed. I'm highly anxious. Before my arrest, 380 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 2: I was on the brink of death on drugs and 381 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:33,639 Speaker 2: my own worst enemy. Since my arrest, in cooperation, I've 382 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 2: made great strives forward in life. I've become a husband, 383 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 2: a father, and a mentor in the addiction community. I've 384 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 2: also became someone my friends and family can depend on. 385 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: I know Ray was nervous as shit when he spoke, 386 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 1: but to his credit, he kept things short and to 387 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:52,120 Speaker 1: the point. 388 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:54,199 Speaker 2: I know the things that I've done are wrong, and 389 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:57,960 Speaker 2: I understand they have affected many people's lives. I hope 390 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 2: my actions since my arrest will help make as many 391 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 2: people whole as possible. I cannot take back the things 392 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 2: that I've done. I know forever I have to live 393 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:09,439 Speaker 2: with the guilt and remorse for my actions, but I 394 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:11,679 Speaker 2: know that I can add something positive to this world. 395 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 2: With how far I've come, I know I will never 396 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 2: be in front of another judge again. Thank you. 397 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:18,400 Speaker 5: Ron. 398 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:23,359 Speaker 1: Unlike Sam charm Is hearing, the government didn't present any 399 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:26,959 Speaker 1: victims to speak in court, not one. I took that 400 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:30,639 Speaker 1: as a good sign, but ultimately the judge had the 401 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:33,639 Speaker 1: final say and she was ready to give her verdict. 402 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:38,640 Speaker 8: You pleaded guilty to ten counts, which is an enormous 403 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 8: amount of criminal activity, especially for one as young as 404 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:45,960 Speaker 8: you are. I'm required to impose a sentence that reflects 405 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:49,640 Speaker 8: the seriousness of the offense, promotes respect for the law, 406 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 8: provides just punishment for the offense and also that affords 407 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:59,359 Speaker 8: adequate deterrence to criminal conduct. Mister Trapani, it is the 408 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 8: judgment of the court that you are sentenced to a 409 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 8: term of imprisonmentimm time served. 410 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:10,360 Speaker 1: We were all sitting behind Ray. Mara grabbed my arm, 411 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: her eyes wide. Neither of us could believe what we 412 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:14,399 Speaker 1: just heard. 413 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 8: And I will tell you your sentence would have been 414 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 8: very different if you had not cooperated. 415 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 2: I always had this one hundred and seventy five years 416 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 2: over my head until I heard the words time. 417 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:29,800 Speaker 1: Served, time served. In other words, Ray had done his time. 418 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 1: I know what you're asking yourself. What time the years 419 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:37,639 Speaker 1: of house arrests, curfew and time between his arrest and 420 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: April of twenty eighteen to his sentencing in April of 421 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:45,119 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two. That was his punishment. When it was 422 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: all said and done, Ray managed to only spend six 423 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,600 Speaker 1: days in jail while he waited for his mom to 424 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:52,800 Speaker 1: bail him out. Crazy. 425 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 2: It all comes to an end there, and it's just 426 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:59,360 Speaker 2: such like a good feeling. I just wanted to turn 427 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 2: around mrk and my friends and family like I won, 428 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:09,240 Speaker 2: you know, just like typical asshole Ray move. 429 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 1: There were a lot of hugs, high fives, and I 430 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:15,440 Speaker 1: told you so. It was from Ray. 431 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:18,679 Speaker 2: It's so wild that they were able to go from 432 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 2: one hundred and seventy five years to time serve for 433 00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:22,680 Speaker 2: six days. 434 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:26,879 Speaker 1: Ray's day in court was done, his criminal slate cleared. 435 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:31,880 Speaker 1: With it all in the rear view mirror, Ray jumped 436 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 1: in the car with me and Mara. We left the 437 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 1: courthouse and hurried across the city to join his wife, 438 00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 1: who was at the hospital. On the car ride there, 439 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 1: he got a FaceTime call from Kim and her doctor. 440 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 3: Oh, congratulations, I'll be there in like forty five minutes. Hey, babe, 441 00:23:55,880 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 3: how you doing. She's doing good. 442 00:23:58,200 --> 00:23:58,800 Speaker 6: We'll see you soon. 443 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 3: All right, thank you? What a day? 444 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:02,960 Speaker 4: Right? 445 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 3: Well fucking Liam? 446 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:11,439 Speaker 1: Oh my god, that is so Yeah. Every year on 447 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 1: his son's birthday, Ray has something else to celebrate his freedom. 448 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:17,360 Speaker 1: I'm really proud of him. 449 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:18,120 Speaker 2: I really am. 450 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:20,359 Speaker 1: I mean, I was fully prepared for them to give. 451 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:20,680 Speaker 3: Me a Yeah. 452 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 1: Ray's mom, Kerrie was all smiles. 453 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 9: When Sam got the eight years. 454 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:27,440 Speaker 2: I was scared. 455 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 9: We were all afraid. 456 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:31,680 Speaker 1: The Japani family had a lot to celebrate that night, 457 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:35,760 Speaker 1: but not everyone was popping champagne and lighting up cigars. 458 00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:43,199 Speaker 10: I would rather put Raymond Trapani in jail for the 459 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:45,720 Speaker 10: rest of his life just because he didn't learn anything. 460 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 1: Jacob Renzel was a Center Tech investor. He was also 461 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: the class representative of a pending class action lawsuit against 462 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:54,680 Speaker 1: Center Tech. 463 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:57,280 Speaker 10: I knew that Ray was going to rat before any 464 00:24:57,320 --> 00:25:01,360 Speaker 10: of this happened. He just has that vibe that he's 465 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:03,320 Speaker 10: for himself mentality. 466 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 6: Somebody who's made it their practice to engage in crime 467 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 6: for their entire life, over and over and over, and 468 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 6: every time that you get caught, you get out of 469 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 6: it by turning on your friends. That's a different species altogether. 470 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:25,680 Speaker 1: That's Paul Petruzzi, Robert Farcas's attorney. Farcas was one of 471 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:27,120 Speaker 1: Ray's partners at Center Tech. 472 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:32,119 Speaker 6: That's not a cooperator who should be rewarded with no 473 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 6: jail time or time served and raised. Just a fraudster 474 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 6: and a crook and always has been. There's no doubt 475 00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:42,080 Speaker 6: in my mind that he's going to get in trouble again, 476 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:44,159 Speaker 6: just like there's no doubt in my mind that whoever 477 00:25:44,160 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 6: he gets in trouble with is going to get in 478 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 6: bigger trouble cause of him. 479 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 1: I wondered if the government could have convicted Sam without 480 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:53,280 Speaker 1: Raised cooperation. 481 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:57,560 Speaker 2: Sam, and no chance if we got to trial. There 482 00:25:57,640 --> 00:25:59,920 Speaker 2: was just too much factual evidence that I was able 483 00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 2: to to confirm for them that it was a rap. 484 00:26:03,640 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: And that's the rub, right. You have two con artists 485 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:10,359 Speaker 1: responsible for the same crime. One does eight years in 486 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 1: prison while the other cooperates and walks free among the 487 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:18,160 Speaker 1: rest of us. Paul Petruzzi doesn't see justice in that. 488 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 6: There's no comparison. Sam's criminal history was like county court 489 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 6: level crap. 490 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 2: Do you wi? 491 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:29,639 Speaker 6: It was just nonsense. Raise was real felony shit. You know, 492 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:30,960 Speaker 6: it's like real crime. 493 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:35,840 Speaker 1: Paul knew Sam well. He helped prep Sam and Robert 494 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:39,720 Speaker 1: for trial, even though one would never come. He knew 495 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaker 1: the ins and outs of Sam's criminal history, and looking back, 496 00:26:43,720 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 1: knew his clients didn't have much of a shot. 497 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:49,479 Speaker 6: Boy, They played ball real different in the Southern District. 498 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:52,440 Speaker 6: In New York, it becomes in us versus them. They 499 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:54,920 Speaker 6: prepped their witnesses for days. 500 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 1: Paul doesn't think too fondly of his colleagues in New York. 501 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:04,280 Speaker 6: They got Trapani gloating and making the entire prosecution team 502 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 6: and the system look bad, embarrassingly bad. In my humble opinion. 503 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:14,400 Speaker 1: As of April twenty twenty four, Sam Charmer remains incarcerated 504 00:27:14,440 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 1: in a minimum security prison. His tentative release date is 505 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:22,159 Speaker 1: in August of twenty twenty seven. We reached out to 506 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:25,720 Speaker 1: Sam and his lawyer for this podcast. After a few 507 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 1: conversations with his attorney, they declined to participate. Robert Farkes 508 00:27:31,119 --> 00:27:33,400 Speaker 1: served four months of his year and a day sentence 509 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 1: before being released. He also declined to participate in this podcast. 510 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:41,800 Speaker 1: His lawyer, Paul Petruzzi, was the only one to speak 511 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:42,120 Speaker 1: with us. 512 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:47,280 Speaker 6: Free Sam. I don't think he deserves eight years for this. 513 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:54,040 Speaker 6: Put Sharma on house arrest and make Trapani's probation the 514 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:56,480 Speaker 6: rest of his life, because if he says he can 515 00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:59,640 Speaker 6: live the rest of his life as a law abiding citizen, 516 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:00,679 Speaker 6: then should prove it. 517 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:04,200 Speaker 1: And that leads us to the final piece of the puzzle, 518 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:05,200 Speaker 1: the money. 519 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:07,760 Speaker 6: I think what the government ought to do is pay 520 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:09,440 Speaker 6: back everybody with the money that it. 521 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:13,399 Speaker 1: Has back In twenty eighteen, the government sees what amount 522 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:16,399 Speaker 1: it to thirty three point four million dollars from CenTra. 523 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:20,639 Speaker 1: That money was put into a remission fund to reimburse investors, 524 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 1: but the amount seized wasn't everything Centritech had collected. There's 525 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:30,040 Speaker 1: still ninety thousand ethereum that the authorities haven't located today. 526 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:32,960 Speaker 1: That would be the equivalent to over three hundred and 527 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 1: fifty million dollars. We can only wonder where that hidden 528 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:41,840 Speaker 1: fortune is buried and in who's wallet. From our research, 529 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:44,360 Speaker 1: doesn't seem like anyone's in a hurry to find it. 530 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 1: As of February twenty twenty four, no one from the 531 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 1: class action lawsuit against center Tech had been paid. 532 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:56,520 Speaker 6: If this case was about protecting investors, how come none 533 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:57,840 Speaker 6: of them have their money. 534 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:11,400 Speaker 1: Back nine months? That was the shelf life for center Tech. 535 00:29:12,720 --> 00:29:16,160 Speaker 1: Who would think three guys without the right education, training, 536 00:29:16,360 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 1: or experience would be able to build a multi million 537 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:25,000 Speaker 1: dollar tech company during the summer of twenty seventeen. Well nobody, 538 00:29:25,040 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 1: I guess, because they didn't really, since it was all 539 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:32,840 Speaker 1: one big con. When you boil it down, Center Tech 540 00:29:32,880 --> 00:29:36,360 Speaker 1: followed Newton's Second Law to a t. What goes up 541 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 1: must come down, and boy did it come crashing down 542 00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:44,560 Speaker 1: much faster and more forceful than I expected. Sam Sharma 543 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:47,880 Speaker 1: is still behind bars and will spend over ten times 544 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:50,320 Speaker 1: as long in prison as he did pulling the strings 545 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 1: at Center Tech. Robert Farcus did his time and is 546 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: now back in Miami serving out his probation. And even 547 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:01,520 Speaker 1: if we all agree that Ray got all easy, life 548 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 1: after sentencing isn't a walk in the park. As of 549 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four, Ray is still on probation, plus he's 550 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,640 Speaker 1: got nearly three million in fines to pay the government. 551 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 2: Financially, he left me in ruin as far as like 552 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:18,960 Speaker 2: owing all this money, but I was able to become 553 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:22,320 Speaker 2: like such a better person, get off drugs, tell my story, 554 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:24,320 Speaker 2: and just like as far as just a human being, 555 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:27,720 Speaker 2: I think I've just evolved so much. I was able 556 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:30,720 Speaker 2: to self analyze and just see where my faults were. 557 00:30:31,720 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 1: It's crazy to hear Ray credit a multi million dollar 558 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:37,760 Speaker 1: fraud scheme for getting sober. But welcome to the life 559 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:39,000 Speaker 1: and times of Rach Your panny. 560 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:44,320 Speaker 2: Off of drugs, your brain can take bad thought and 561 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 2: break it down and stop it, but on drugs you can't. 562 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 2: Right Like, that's where like the chemical imbalance from drugs 563 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:55,640 Speaker 2: just leads to bad shit. I have like no urge 564 00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:58,440 Speaker 2: to do harm in life, have just like a very 565 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:01,840 Speaker 2: regular life these days. I have a house, a family, 566 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:04,200 Speaker 2: you know, the good old American dream. 567 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:09,880 Speaker 1: Two months after Ray's sentencing, he bought his house. Now, 568 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:11,800 Speaker 1: I heard a lot of whispers from people who wondered 569 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:14,400 Speaker 1: how he could afford it. Hell, I only know two 570 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 1: people in my age that own a house. One is 571 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:21,520 Speaker 1: super successful and the other is Ray. With everything he's 572 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:24,360 Speaker 1: done and now ows how the hell could he afford it. 573 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:27,280 Speaker 1: I'll let Ray explain that one. 574 00:31:27,680 --> 00:31:30,360 Speaker 2: I got the house from my grandfather passing away. I 575 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:33,840 Speaker 2: got inheritance, and then on that inheritance, I paid restitution 576 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:38,040 Speaker 2: on inheritance, and then my wife her father split the 577 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 2: down payment for the house and we bought the house. 578 00:31:42,200 --> 00:31:45,160 Speaker 2: There's nothing shady in the slightest bit about how the 579 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:47,400 Speaker 2: fuck I got my house. It's literally the most basic 580 00:31:47,920 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 2: way to get a house. 581 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:53,160 Speaker 1: No, Ray isn't driving a mini van yet. But I'm 582 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:55,520 Speaker 1: proud of him for finally becoming a decent human being. 583 00:31:56,720 --> 00:31:59,600 Speaker 1: But that doesn't absolve him of his past, at least 584 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:03,959 Speaker 1: not in my book. With the prescription fraud in Miami exotics, 585 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:07,600 Speaker 1: those things I could forgive, but Sandra was fucked up. 586 00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:10,640 Speaker 1: I still have issues with some of the things he did, 587 00:32:11,880 --> 00:32:15,200 Speaker 1: but at least I can genuinely say he's trying to change, 588 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 1: and I do think he's evolved and become a better person. 589 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:22,000 Speaker 1: But there's one thing I never asked him, something I've 590 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 1: been thinking about since that car ride back from the 591 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:27,560 Speaker 1: courthouse in April twenty twenty two. The question I was 592 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:31,120 Speaker 1: shocked to Judge Schofield didn't ask him. Did Ray regret 593 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:31,600 Speaker 1: any of this? 594 00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:38,520 Speaker 2: No regrets, No, I did not. As fuck up, I'm 595 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:41,800 Speaker 2: not good at these questions. It's not that I don't 596 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:45,880 Speaker 2: feel bad. I'm obviously sorry that people lost money, But 597 00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:48,800 Speaker 2: as bad as it is, and as fucked up as 598 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:50,880 Speaker 2: it was to other people, it got me to be 599 00:32:50,960 --> 00:32:53,640 Speaker 2: able to move forward in my life. It got me sober. 600 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:57,560 Speaker 2: I would have never given up until I was dead, 601 00:32:57,920 --> 00:33:00,760 Speaker 2: until I was able to reach like the pinnacle of criminality. 602 00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:04,920 Speaker 1: I wouldn't exactly call that taking accountability. I guess you 603 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:06,680 Speaker 1: can say Ray still has some work to do on 604 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:09,840 Speaker 1: learning how to say I'm sorry, but he certainly has 605 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:12,160 Speaker 1: an interesting outlook about his life of counting people. 606 00:33:13,440 --> 00:33:16,320 Speaker 2: CenTra saved my life, reaching that pinnacle of like what 607 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:19,200 Speaker 2: I've always been searching for, driving the cards, all the 608 00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:21,800 Speaker 2: money in the world and just not feeling any fulfillment 609 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:24,120 Speaker 2: at the end of the day, it just gave me 610 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 2: all the things that I had been searching for since 611 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:28,600 Speaker 2: I was a little kid, and then seeing where my 612 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:31,680 Speaker 2: life is today is all fucking kind of bizarre. That's 613 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:33,479 Speaker 2: why I'm doing this right, and that's why people are 614 00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:36,480 Speaker 2: interested in this story, just because it's just a complete 615 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:37,880 Speaker 2: madness story. 616 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:41,680 Speaker 1: You could say Ray beat the odds somehow, some way, 617 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:45,040 Speaker 1: he managed to get through to the other side. Some 618 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:47,960 Speaker 1: people call him a rat. He turned on his friends 619 00:33:47,960 --> 00:33:51,920 Speaker 1: and avoided jail. I look at it as cooperating was 620 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 1: just Ray's latest gamble. He was willing to risk it 621 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:58,760 Speaker 1: all to avoid jail time. He'd admit to six other 622 00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:03,600 Speaker 1: felonies to clear the four center charges. Those years in prison, 623 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:07,360 Speaker 1: they were no joke. If Ray fucked things up while 624 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:10,080 Speaker 1: he was cooperating, he would never see the light of 625 00:34:10,160 --> 00:34:14,160 Speaker 1: day again. I believe that type of risk and pressure 626 00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:17,840 Speaker 1: it affected him and not the way risk affects you 627 00:34:17,920 --> 00:34:22,080 Speaker 1: and me. That risk, whether it be in the poker 628 00:34:22,160 --> 00:34:26,000 Speaker 1: room or at the cooperating table, was raised driving force. 629 00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:30,560 Speaker 1: Ray and I decided to go back to the beach 630 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:33,719 Speaker 1: where our friendship was born. It was clear that Ray 631 00:34:33,719 --> 00:34:36,719 Speaker 1: still had more to share with me there we were 632 00:34:36,840 --> 00:34:39,280 Speaker 1: sitting on the shoreline looking out into the water. 633 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:41,359 Speaker 3: I never liked the water. 634 00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:44,880 Speaker 2: I would did all that crazy shit, molested me, all 635 00:34:44,880 --> 00:34:47,239 Speaker 2: that favor shit. He used to try to drown me 636 00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:49,879 Speaker 2: back in the day, like you like bring me out 637 00:34:49,920 --> 00:34:52,560 Speaker 2: past the rocks and like push me under, push me under. 638 00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:54,960 Speaker 2: He was doing that probably to like make sure, like 639 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:57,560 Speaker 2: hopefully I die, and then his story never gets out 640 00:34:57,960 --> 00:34:58,839 Speaker 2: of like what he did. 641 00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:00,759 Speaker 3: So like I just I'm going in the water. 642 00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:04,280 Speaker 1: All those years we grew up together on the beach, 643 00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:07,520 Speaker 1: and I never knew why Ray avoided the water. It 644 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:08,520 Speaker 1: all makes sense now. 645 00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:12,920 Speaker 2: I always talk about it and talk about like all 646 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:14,920 Speaker 2: the fucked up shit, and that's like my therapy is 647 00:35:14,960 --> 00:35:16,680 Speaker 2: just telling the world, like what's going on in my 648 00:35:16,719 --> 00:35:18,840 Speaker 2: life and how fucked up it was, and this is 649 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:20,680 Speaker 2: what made me and this is why I always think 650 00:35:20,719 --> 00:35:24,000 Speaker 2: this way. And that completely correlates to having fucked up 651 00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:27,520 Speaker 2: childhood trauma to how much risk I take. I don't 652 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:29,359 Speaker 2: take any risk right now, and it feels very weird 653 00:35:29,440 --> 00:35:31,520 Speaker 2: for me. I just have like these snaps where like 654 00:35:31,560 --> 00:35:35,400 Speaker 2: I'm like gotta go fucking nuts and blow this up 655 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:37,959 Speaker 2: so I can just like start fresh. And run away 656 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:38,480 Speaker 2: type of thing. 657 00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 1: Your whole weight of like risk reward and shit is 658 00:35:42,239 --> 00:35:44,640 Speaker 1: in my opinions, so fucked up, like out of whack. 659 00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:47,759 Speaker 1: You know, it's just because really I don't understand even 660 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:48,359 Speaker 1: where you're coming. 661 00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:48,880 Speaker 4: I don't know. 662 00:35:50,200 --> 00:35:52,879 Speaker 3: The more I talk about this stuff, it makes it like. 663 00:35:52,880 --> 00:35:56,040 Speaker 2: My ability to not blow shit up, not fuck up 664 00:35:56,040 --> 00:35:59,680 Speaker 2: my whole life. But it doesn't feel like my full self. 665 00:36:01,160 --> 00:36:03,919 Speaker 2: This life is like super uncomfortable for me. I don't 666 00:36:03,920 --> 00:36:07,160 Speaker 2: get like any sort of thrill. I like living on 667 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:10,160 Speaker 2: the edge. That's like very comfortable for me. 668 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:13,120 Speaker 1: That kind of worries me, though, when you say shit 669 00:36:13,239 --> 00:36:15,120 Speaker 1: like I don't you don't feel like yourself? Are you 670 00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:16,960 Speaker 1: saying that like you don't feel like yourself because you're 671 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:19,640 Speaker 1: not like taking these insane risks and weighing this shit out. 672 00:36:19,719 --> 00:36:21,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, Like I'm not having like fun, you know. 673 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:24,439 Speaker 1: And I hear you say that you're missing this risk 674 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:26,040 Speaker 1: and you want to just blow it all up and 675 00:36:26,080 --> 00:36:28,920 Speaker 1: start fresh. It worries me hearing shit like that. I 676 00:36:28,960 --> 00:36:37,040 Speaker 1: think I'll be fine, I hope. As I look out 677 00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:41,040 Speaker 1: onto the beach, I was flooded with childhood memories my 678 00:36:41,160 --> 00:36:44,040 Speaker 1: first kiss, my first job, tell my first Blum was 679 00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:47,239 Speaker 1: on this beach. I glanced back at the dunes where 680 00:36:47,280 --> 00:36:50,600 Speaker 1: Ray and I would play Manhunter's kids. They were smaller 681 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:55,360 Speaker 1: than I remembered. I rode it away. Everything changes with time. 682 00:36:56,680 --> 00:36:59,960 Speaker 1: Ray had been through a lot, the abuse, the drug, 683 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:04,120 Speaker 1: the ecstasy, and the crash. Was his moral compass warped 684 00:37:04,120 --> 00:37:08,839 Speaker 1: beyond repair? Is he absolved for what he did? Did 685 00:37:08,840 --> 00:37:11,800 Speaker 1: he learn a thing? Or is it my own bias 686 00:37:11,840 --> 00:37:14,280 Speaker 1: making excuses for Ray like I did when we were kids. 687 00:37:15,480 --> 00:37:17,719 Speaker 1: There are plenty of people that are skeptical about Rai's 688 00:37:17,800 --> 00:37:21,600 Speaker 1: motivations today. They believe that Ray will be back conning 689 00:37:21,640 --> 00:37:25,000 Speaker 1: and cheating people the moment he's off probation, And I 690 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:27,840 Speaker 1: hate to say it, but that thought also lingers in 691 00:37:27,880 --> 00:37:32,640 Speaker 1: the back of my mind. But nothing Ray is doing 692 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:36,200 Speaker 1: today validates those fears. He's been cleaned for nearly six 693 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:39,880 Speaker 1: years now. He's actually a great father to his two boys, 694 00:37:40,080 --> 00:37:42,239 Speaker 1: and he started to put his energy towards something good. 695 00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:46,360 Speaker 1: When he's not with his family, he volunteers at a 696 00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:49,040 Speaker 1: substance abuse clinic, working as a counselor and telling a 697 00:37:49,080 --> 00:37:53,480 Speaker 1: story to anyone that will listen. As I watched Ray 698 00:37:53,520 --> 00:37:55,920 Speaker 1: take a hit of his vabe. I wondered what was 699 00:37:55,960 --> 00:37:57,239 Speaker 1: going through his mind? 700 00:37:57,880 --> 00:37:58,680 Speaker 2: Was it nostalgic? 701 00:37:58,719 --> 00:38:02,200 Speaker 1: Thoughts of collecting sang crabs by the water are darker 702 00:38:02,239 --> 00:38:04,719 Speaker 1: thoughts of getting drowned by the rocks past the brake line. 703 00:38:06,120 --> 00:38:09,200 Speaker 1: I considered asking him, but I wasn't sure who this 704 00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:12,480 Speaker 1: guy was sitting next to me. I'm still coming to 705 00:38:12,600 --> 00:38:14,880 Speaker 1: terms with the fact that Ray is a force of nature. 706 00:38:16,080 --> 00:38:18,920 Speaker 1: As much as you want to, he can't be tamed. 707 00:38:19,920 --> 00:38:24,400 Speaker 1: He's like the ocean. Growing up in Atlantic Beach, you 708 00:38:24,480 --> 00:38:26,560 Speaker 1: learn as a kid there's an important dichotomy when it 709 00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:30,319 Speaker 1: comes to the water. As calm and serene as it is, 710 00:38:31,920 --> 00:38:35,759 Speaker 1: it's equally as violent and destructive. You just have to 711 00:38:35,800 --> 00:38:40,240 Speaker 1: accept that risk because you never truly know what's lurking 712 00:38:40,280 --> 00:38:41,040 Speaker 1: under the surface. 713 00:38:43,360 --> 00:38:56,600 Speaker 11: Tony, when you fall asleep, dream salty ol cute, away 714 00:38:56,719 --> 00:39:05,920 Speaker 11: from the here and now, five tail thing remands. 715 00:39:39,600 --> 00:39:42,840 Speaker 1: Creating a Con is a production of Glass Podcasts, a 716 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:46,799 Speaker 1: division of Glass Entertainment Group in partnership with iHeart Podcasts. 717 00:39:47,880 --> 00:39:49,640 Speaker 1: If you would like to reach out to the Creating 718 00:39:49,680 --> 00:39:52,600 Speaker 1: a Con team, email us at Creating a Con at 719 00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:56,600 Speaker 1: gmail dot com. That's Creating a CEO n at Gmail 720 00:39:56,640 --> 00:40:00,920 Speaker 1: dot com. We appreciate your support. One way to support 721 00:40:00,920 --> 00:40:04,160 Speaker 1: our show is by subscribing to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, 722 00:40:04,760 --> 00:40:07,040 Speaker 1: and don't forget to rate and review Creating a con 723 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:10,879 Speaker 1: Five star reviews go a long way. A big thank 724 00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:13,520 Speaker 1: you to those who are listening. Also be sure to 725 00:40:13,600 --> 00:40:16,640 Speaker 1: check us out and follow us on Instagram at Glass Podcasts. 726 00:40:17,640 --> 00:40:20,959 Speaker 1: The show is hosted and produced by me Johnny B. Good, 727 00:40:21,320 --> 00:40:26,120 Speaker 1: with executive producers Nancy Glass, Ben Fetterman, and Andrea Gunning. 728 00:40:26,600 --> 00:40:31,080 Speaker 1: Written and produced by Ben Fetterman and Todd Gans, additional 729 00:40:31,080 --> 00:40:36,400 Speaker 1: writing by Matt Delvecchio. Operations and production support by Kristin Melchiori. 730 00:40:36,960 --> 00:40:41,640 Speaker 1: Additional production support Trey Morgan. Our iHeart team is Ali 731 00:40:41,719 --> 00:40:46,920 Speaker 1: Perry and Jessica Crincheck. Sound editing and mixing by Matt Delvecchio, 732 00:40:47,719 --> 00:40:52,239 Speaker 1: Consulting producer Nathaniel Popper. Creating a CON's theme composed by 733 00:40:52,239 --> 00:40:56,840 Speaker 1: Oliver Bains. Music library provided by MiB Music, and a 734 00:40:56,920 --> 00:41:01,640 Speaker 1: special thanks to our voice actors Carrie Hart and Rocky Alts. 735 00:41:02,400 --> 00:41:05,920 Speaker 1: Thank you for subscribing to iHeart True Crime Plus exclusively 736 00:41:05,960 --> 00:41:08,920 Speaker 1: on Apple. We hope you enjoyed this ad free presentation 737 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:12,600 Speaker 1: of creating a con the story of Bitcom. 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