September 16, 2014
DOWN (Definitely) and OUT (No Way)
Many of us have experienced low points in our lives. Without the low points, it would be much more difficult for us to appreciate the high points. I can safely say that I have reached an all time low in my life!
Thirty months ago months ago I was a well respected attorney at a prominent Midwestern law firm. I was well paid and I enjoyed my work. I loved my family, my friends and worked hard to assist others in my community. I lived in a lovely home with my wife Roxanne, my sons Connor and Taylor and our dogs Chaser and Mac. Today my life is clearly different.
My Son Taylor died after a 4 and 1/2 year battle with drug addiction. Taylor was handsome, bright and athletic. He attended a prominent east coast college and played hockey. A career ending injury his Freshman year of college started his downward spiral into the seedy world of drugs and his eventual death in June of 2012. I can only say that losing a Child is an inconsolable event.
Twelve months later, in June of 2013, I was resigning my position at my law firm. My resignation was submitted as information was coming to light about my involvement in a Bank Fraud. I came home and told Roxanne what I had done and simply wept. I was telling the love of my life, who was still suffering from the traumatic loss of her son that I was a criminal, that we were going to lose every material thing we owned and that I would be going to prison. For reasons unknown, she disregarded my advice and decided to stay with me.
Since June of 2013, I have sold everything I own of value to pay restitution to the victims of my crime. I have pled guilty to Bank Fraud and I have been sentenced to serve 64 months in Federal prison. I have moved from the community where I was born and raised to Florida where we live in a small condo. I am the subject of ridicule and gossip in my home town. I seriously considered suicide to escape my predicament and enable my family to obtain my life insurance proceeds so they could continue to live a financially comfortable life.
Somehow, with the help of several close friends and a very good Doctor, I decided to chose a different route. I decided that I was so far down, that things could only go up! I met Justin Paperny, a prison consultant, who has an unconventional approach to dealing with problems such as mine. Instead of making excuses and transferring blame for my actions to others, I would accept complete responsibility and move forward with a plan that would allow me to document my journey through this process and enable me to prepare for my return to the real world after I paid my debt to society . I am setting goals and benchmarks regarding my reading and writing while in prison. I hope to expand my network of friends to enhance my prospects for future employment.
I know I have a lot to offer to someone or some company once I emerge from this quagmire. I need to be gainfully employed to make further amends to the victims of my crimes and to my family. I am going to do everything in my power to learn from my mistakes and emerge from prison as a better person that people will recognize as a positive asset to their business interests as opposed to a negative liability. I am clearly down, but I am definitely not out! Stay tuned! More progress reports to follow!
Ken Flaska
