Ex-Prosecutor Turns Consultant for White-Collar Criminals
A former Suffolk County prosecutor, who has faced his own legal troubles, is now catering to white-collar criminals in federal prison by offering consulting services.
Christopher McPartland, sentenced to five years in federal prison due to corruption charges, runs a consulting firm called McPartland Federal Prison Strategies. His LinkedIn profile and media reports reveal that he primarily serves affluent inmates.
In his LinkedIn bio, McPartland highlights his 26-year career as a prosecutor, claiming to have handled cases involving organized crime.
Interestingly, he notes that he too was convicted of obstruction of justice, which provides him with a unique insight into the workings of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
At 58, McPartland teaches his clients various survival skills for prison life—everything from finding work to maintaining hygiene, navigating inmate politics, and even strategies for securing early release.
His website states, “We help educate you about life in prison, including medical issues, hygiene, safety, dealing with inmates and staff, commissary, cafeteria and TV room practices, work assignments, and many other aspects of how to behave in prison.”
Attorney Randy Zelin frequently employs McPartland’s services for his white-collar clients, asserting that it’s a vital and effective resource. “They want to be prepared for sentencing,” he explains, noting that many clients are unsure of what prison life entails.
“They don’t know what it’s going to be like, from the showers to the cafeterias, or how to navigate the system. The books don’t explain that,” Zelin adds.
According to Zelin, McPartland’s fees are relatively reasonable, especially when compared to competitors who can charge anywhere from $800 to over $15,000 an hour. While specific costs are not indicated on his site, McPartland prefers to consult personally with clients to determine pricing.
Previously, McPartland served as chief of staff to the disgraced former Suffolk County Attorney Thomas Spota, aiding in the cover-up of a 2012 incident where an inmate was assaulted. Both men faced legal consequences for their roles, being found guilty in 2019 of witness coercion and obstruction.
Spota has since taken up a part-time position at a law firm on Long Island.
After being released from a federal prison in Beaumont, Texas, in 2023, where he spent two years, McPartland initially joined another consulting firm, Justice Advocacy Group, in Virginia, before launching his own company last October.
Zelin argues that if someone deserves a second chance, they should be allowed to demonstrate their value to society. “With the highest incarceration rate globally, we must figure out how to help these individuals reintegrate,” he concludes.
McPartland has not responded to requests for comment.
