§ 848. Continuing criminal enterprise

(a) Penalties; forfeitures
Any person who engages in a continuing criminal enterprise shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may not be less than 20 years and which may be up to life imprisonment, to a fine not to exceed the greater of that authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $2,000,000 if the defendant is an individual or $5,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, and to the forfeiture prescribed in section 853 of this title; except that if any person engages in such activity after one or more prior convictions of him under this section have become final, he shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment which may not be less than 30 years and which may be up to life imprisonment, to a fine not to exceed the greater of twice the amount authorized in accordance with the provisions of title 18 or $4,000,000 if the defendant is an individual or $10,000,000 if the defendant is other than an individual, and to the forfeiture prescribed in section 853 of this title.
(b) Life imprisonment for engaging in continuing criminal enterprise
Any person who engages in a continuing criminal enterprise shall be imprisoned for life and fined in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, if—
(1) such person is the principal administrator, organizer, or leader of the enterprise or is one of several such principal administrators, organizers, or leaders; and
(2)
(A) the violation referred to in subsection (c)(1) of this section involved at least 300 times the quantity of a substance described in subsection 841(b)(1)(B) of this title, or
(B) the enterprise, or any other enterprise in which the defendant was the principal or one of several principal administrators, organizers, or leaders, received $10 million dollars in gross receipts during any twelve-month period of its existence for the manufacture, importation, or distribution of a substance described in section 841 (b)(1)(B) of this title.
(c) “Continuing criminal enterprise” defined
For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, a person is engaged in a continuing criminal enterprise if—
(1) he violates any provision of this subchapter or subchapter II of this chapter the punishment for which is a felony, and
(2) such violation is a part of a continuing series of violations of this subchapter or subchapter II of this chapter—
(A) which are undertaken by such person in concert with five or more other persons with respect to whom such person occupies a position of organizer, a supervisory position, or any other position of management, and
(B) from which such person obtains substantial income or resources.
(d) Suspension of sentence and probation prohibited
In the case of any sentence imposed under this section, imposition or execution of such sentence shall not be suspended, probation shall not be granted, and the Act of July 15, 1932 (D.C. Code, secs. 24–203—24–207), shall not apply.

Many say, wonder, what I’ll do, free. I guess it makes them, those, wish, and want to think ahead. Many wonder what made me cross the divide. The other side, to this gut-grey life inside……Can you put yourself in my shoes.? Hmmm. That makes me give a grin. You’ll never win. Win, a coming dawn; for you’ll be dead and gone…..Cross never here. You’ll be made to wilt. Dry up; give up; forget your God; maybe laugh to your own sour smell; for Pete’s sake what have you become?…..Brother, you aint no fun. Wonders sunk all your heart desires. Guess what? You’ll thrown it into prison’s mire……Me, this fellow knows a way. Up a forgotten lane. To the very edge, I’ll go. My moon will be there, full. My eyes spand the wanted land. So calling to me. Sorry my love it’s all I see…..I’ve finally crossed. Not to lights and dance. Nor bed and she and she. Know, just the simple spot and a seat for me……I’ll think of something never born; write something never read. Feel something never felt. I’ve crossed, you see, blessed a first for me. Give me those crossings everytime. I’ll survive to the head of the bastard’s lines. Keep all else; this George will be fine.
Yes, many say, wonder, what I’ll do.
Guess it makes them…..wish.

I subscribe myself,
George Martorano

Well, you might think Im losing it after all these years, caged, but I like to tell all my facebook friends, blog friends, and anybody who wishes to be my friends of a certain night long ago. You see they were transporting me from one hell hole, to another. Me, in the backseat chains around my wrist and ankles, two marshalls in the front seat; not caring if I live or die. Driving me through a late stary night in America”s heart land. Where one see’s nothing but farms. Farms after farms. I had my head to a tilt and just looking out at fields of snow, and fences. Where home’s and barn’s; any and all I pray they will wish me a welcome. If I saw a soft light at a home far in the country distances. I felt I could cry……Then it happened. There far on my right, as if my shoulder and chin wanted everything from my soul, to that right. You see, I saw a barn in the distance, was a blaze. And around the barn, ran a beautiful dark horse. The yellow flames, climbing into the purple night. The steam flowing in and out of the horses nostrils. Snow being tossed up from his fast moving hooves…….And I swear to God, it was the prettiest thing I ever saw.

This brief information presentation will explain programming during federal incarceration in three acts. First the beginning, second how to to do your time and thirdly the use of what is presented to facilitate a positive finale.

ACT I So You Have Been Arrested

Unfortunately you did not make bail. You are now in the complete charge of the BOP. What are you to do now? Recent Supreme Court decisions help a pre trial and post convicted inmate. There are BOP policies that are beneficial to both types of inmates. Also there is a lot that can be done by utilizing the education and positive programs provided by the institution where you are housed.

You should have a complete mental understanding that BOP staff did not put you here and they are not your enemy. In fact, the best revenge in a prisoner’s situation is success. To start to be successful in your new settings, you need to learn all there is to be offered by all the programs available in a pre-trial facility. Talk to any and all staff that are involved or can direct you to the available programs for change. Doing time with a chip on one’s shoulder can only lead to a negative “time” during your incarceration.

We know your mind is preoccupied with your case, your family, and possibly your health. But again, there is case law that states judges are open and receptive when shown that an inmate has immediately stepped up during his incarceration by taking all types of educational programs for change. This type of positive attitude and adjustment will set a motivating pattern if one has to continue his days within the BOP.

Act II After Sentencing: How to do Your Time

Unfortunately you are now a sentenced inmate within the BOP. No matter what level of prison you are sent to, all facilities have multiple programs available. The Education Department, Prison Chapel, Vocational Training and select units offer a variety of life style change programs. Since you may have received a lengthy or a short sentence you might think that taking programs for change is a complete waste of time. You would miss out on one of the most important things you can get from your time of incarceration. One might think that it is better to become worse during his or her incarceration then to make foolish attempts to educate ones self in many ways. Let me state that the authors of this profound material say that that type of thinking is a complete falsehood.

For instance, lets say an inmate has a life sentence and is feeling no hope. Yet there is complete hope if one can completely change his character through education. For not only taking BOP programs, there is also affordable distance learning which one can participate through many types of institutions. By working hard and not wasting your years in the SHU or through negative actions, an inmate who puts his nose to the grindstone and gets a high level of education, or a degree of some kind, you will not be the same person anymore. You will possibly and most likely receive some type of assistance from leaders in the outside community who can make a difference in an inmate’s life. In plain terms, do not let the time do you, you do the time in the best possible light.

ACT III A Positive Finale

Time has passed, you have been in the BOP for a while, for quite some of your birthdays. You have educated yourself at a high level of expectations. You have avoided receiving incident reports. Through the years, you have sat in front of teachers, instructors, outside visitors relaying information in a learning capacity and even mentors. You have accomplished such goals through your hard work. You are now an inmate that staff seeks out to work within all types of positive programs. Quite frankly, you are not the same person who entered the BOP so long ago. You are a person that the BOP can not but help document wonderful “progress reports”. An entitled progress report in such good standing can be utilized in many ways, even applying it to the court for a reduction in sentence. Again may we say that the authors of these three acts know from first hand experience that using the BOP and all of its positive programs can only bring you closer to some serious goals.

It is our hope that this first hand information relayed upon you can point you in the right direction throughout your incarceration. Everyone in the system from the warden on down wishes for you to excel in your prison setting.

Written by: George Martorano and Robert Paratore

Eruption; into this life. Seems not bad in the beginning. Seems to worry is short. Laughter comes each day. Play had its ups and downs. Than, once in a while along comes a clown. Though the area wasnt that much. On certain days came a little luck.

Eruption; you’ve grown so tall. Venturing out not knowing, yet searching for the fall. Came the taste of love; went and push wanting more than the hugs. Gangsters near and far, handsome nice to see. Will the neighbors remember me.? Dressed to kill, walking flat streets at will; no, never looking for a hill. My, my they set a trap. Back and front hidden from all; eyes so small; mouths that be. Badges and all……rats, rats in every hall. Wanting one thing, to see me kneel.

Eruption; thrown into a cage. Four by four; can I remember it all.? Tears came and went. Fists bang, bang till dawn. Lips knew words, sounds but she’ll never be found. Eyes, oh eyes just you they see. Eyes, oh eyes tell all to me. Mine are clear, facing decade’s fear. Oh, then of heart. It beats, yes. Does it feel.? Does it wish, maybe a dream.? But it all comes down to you. Last, last eruption’s past. Last, last, the last eruption could be. Life or death. I and the cage wait and see…..wait and see.

And welcome to the age of prison

I feel they took all the pretty seashells from the sea
I feel the flowers gone, vanish before the sun and me
I feel an unholy drape, dark, pulled so tight beneath blue skies

And welcome to the age of prison

No more can I hear the babies cry
No more can I taste lips so shy
No more will I dance to fall
No, no more can I woo again…..friend

And welcome to the age of prison

No, no more will she wake in my arms
No, no more they chained that charm

And welcome to the age of prison

I soon will feel the sum of things
I feel what agony brings
I feel lesson’s lesson, scared on my back
I feel my love never to look back

And welcome to the age of prison

We ran and ran, coming down to the last half mile, by friend states to me “gotta 10 o’clock medical, gotta stop by the showers first, will catch up with you at chow hall later”

As he headed one way, I jogged towards the outdoor “cold” showers they have in the yard. I left a towel and some dry cloths there before my run.

As I got back to my cell, my running friend came running over, ” hey, my cell’s floor is being stripped and waxed, mind if I use your shampoo?, I’ll just use that to wash too”

“Sure, take a clean towel too if ya want” I replied.

Well, in the chow hall I did’nt see him, but I did notice the guy who lives next to me looking around for someone, me… “hey, you better get back to the unit”

“What’s up?” I asked

“…you’ll see” he said, as led the long walk back

I started thinking, what was going on, after being caged for 25 years, I knew it was’ent too bad as I would have been given this messege to get back differently. I knew this was not a “life and death” situation.

As we got back to the unit, I noticed his cell was still being worked on. When we got to my cell, my running friend was sitting on the end of my bunk… he did not look too happy.

“…what happened?” I asked

“my head, that’s what happened” he replied as I stood to look.

“DAMN, what the hell happened, what’s that shit” I asked

“WHAT HAPPENED??, I’ll tell you what happened, that VO5 shampoo bottle had glue in it-now I can’t get it out-Why?? why did’nt you say something George, why the hell do you have glue in a VO5 shampoo bottle??”

How this all happened, was that I forgot that I had gotten this from another friend so that I could make cardboard shelves for my cell-oops.

For the next 4-5 days, we scrubbed, rubbed, applied various solutions, and even shaved his head. From the looks of the top of his head, it’s gonna take a while for it to get back to normal. At least I hope it does.

Well, I am gonna go take a shower now, and yes I will be checking my shampoo. I am also hoping this does not affect his running, as he is one of the few that can keep up.

For all there is a purpose. There must be, no matter how large or small.

It is morning. I have my purpose. I am sitting on a basketball with my back up against a concrete pole. I’m looking, glancing, at the little sign I wrote; “DO NOT STEP ON THE FLOWERS”. It seems over-night these small pretty flowers of yellow, red, white and purple have bloomed. The problem is that they are right next to a pathway. At times, when prisoners are walking in two’s or more they tend to walk off the pathway-right where these little beautiful flowers are. I don’t want them to be crushed; they would die.

When i first saw them, I stopped and wondered, walked on… but kept wondering. By the time I walked almost around the whole yard, I started giving some of the pretty little flowers names – Names of women. I pictured pretty women. I saw the basketball with a clipboard and pencil next to it so I took them and made the sign.

Now I sit here…

“watch the flowers ” I shout to a some men as they come upon my little beautys. They find humor in my purpose, that’s ok. I will sit here till the yard is closed… 2 more hours. I’ll be with my girls for 2 more hours. It is the least I can do for my purpose today.

The sun is on my face, arms and upper chest, it is war. The colors are rich. I am feeling kind, human, and not of beast.

I could just go over and pick the flowers, put them in a book and have to myself to enjoy for as long as I want.. but no, see, longevity is only for those who can swallow the un-bareable. No, I will keep the love for these girls as long as I can. Then I will go. They’ll be alone. Alone like the women I left so long ago. Some have dies, others exsist, few have flourished. And I know, I’ll be damned and leave the sign. But, I will not come tomorrow, no, tomorrow will be yesterday; no, I will have a new one on a new day.

It is all I have to do, these puposes-acted out neo-logisms. Good thing I always have my pen so that I can write and pass them to you !!

“… HEY,WATCH OUT FOR THEM FLOWERS” I point
“FLOWERS??”one of three asked
“THOSE” I point again.

They nod and walk on.

As I walked the prison yard today, I noticed a group of men that had gathered with “prepared” treats they had purchased at the prison store. I observed for a few minutes realizing that they were “dads”, gathered to celebrate “Father’s Day”. I asked if it was ok to speak a few words to the group. Naturally, they obliged.

I talked to them of the singular appearance of us all. For we all have the appearance of being just prisoners. To the staff, lawmakers, and to many of those in the “free world”, we are viewed as just and only that. I have been viewed like this for almost a quarter of a century.

As I spoke, I was looking about 20-30 feet above their heads; I explained why… I stated that I have been looking up towards the sky for many a year, because, when my eyes are leveled, my eyes only see a compound of caged lives. One must find a way to leave the cage, even if it’s just by looking up !!

Happy Fathers’s Day…