Club Fed: Fact or Fiction?

Aaron Vallett, a former financial advisor doing time in McCreary Federal Prison Camp in central Appalachia for running a Ponzi scheme, rejects the Club Fed myth.
Want more? White Collar Convicts: Life On The Inside Premieres Wednesday April 29 at 10p ET/PT

[xxdomixx]

I do think it makes sense to house petty criminals who have never been violent in a separate place.

[weicheng]

Oh that's a PRISONER being interviewed? Whole time I thought he was a guard from his outfit.

[Opinionatedguy]

Compared to the conditions that blue collar criminals have to deal with, that is heaven. A guy that is close to being paroled would be happy with those conditions.

[matrodmedia]

Okay well, one needs to differentiate what the differences between all the camps and classifications are. Where they are interviewing here IS indeed technically a "minimum-security" federal prison, but it's also on the same property as a medium-max security prison (also called McCreary). Also, McCreary only has a "satellite" minimum-security prison, which is specifically for inmates that "technically" are classified low-enough to be able to go to a true minimum-security camp, but for whatever reason (disciplinary reasons within the prison system, details of crime, or public notoriety) they are not allowed to go to a true, fenceless, minimum-security camp. Thus, McCreary Federal Prison does NOT have a prison "camp, " as I've already mentioned, the term "camp" in regards to Federal Prison systems, is a very specific term; and when the media misleads people by not doing their due-diligence on research, it leads to articles that are written just like this one is, i.e. "a former financial advisor doing time in McCreary Federal Prison _Camp_ ." <- Again, the prison is NOT a camp. Camps ARE indeed MUCH more laid back in regards to how many guards are watching you, whether or not theres an actual fence around the outside perimeter, what type of visitation freedoms you get, as well as the types of programs available for inmates. This doesn't necessarily mean a "camp" is better than a minimum-security facility - it's all in how you look at it; and/or what the inmate's goal is while inside.

So while maybe the video itself isn't the misleading part, just simply using the term "prison camp" immediately makes people think its easy-going and fenceless. And this is the part that I don't like, and IMO, does the most damage down the line (in regards to the effects of media on public perception).

[daretospeak]

Do you honestly believe that this guy is going to tell you the truth in front of the camera? Lol

[Clif-gjkl]

Some of that stuff he said is true, regarding the strip searches. But I assure you, a camp is much, much easier to serve than any other part of higher level prisons. I know, because I have been to two federal camps. To me, the only pain was the fact you couldn't go home. But I tell you what, one of those camps was so easy to walk away, once a month, I use to sneak off the grounds and meet my girlfriend at a hotel and return before count time. The officials never knew I was missing. I recall a liquor store a block away that some of us would sneak off property and go buy alcohol and return to the grounds and party up with guys in our dorm. No wires, fences and one patrol car that you could see coming a mile away. I served my two years easy. This guy was a cry baby. Just listen to him. Strip searches was for the officers safety and I don't blame them.

[michaelragusa]

Although I have never been to prison or jail, I have always believed that there is no such thing as "Club Fed." The strip searches mentioned in this video reinforce my belief. There are things that the inmate probably withheld from the journalist for fear of retribution.

[Daveosbeatz]

You serve your full time, for those of you who say its a camp compared to jail..either way your freedom is taking away and if you get 16 years theres no getting out half that time or a quarter or good behavior..you gotta be on best behavior there and serve full time.i know plenty people in the feds

[christopherbernhardt]

Do they have people with only less than 10 years? Elizabeth Holmes was brought here with 12 years

[Stillstoned]

That food looks way better than what the military gets. Club fed, no doubt

[southernxcut]

That food looks amazing what, way better then county

[tornadolover]

Jeez kinda looks lIke a nordic prison.

[jh]

Sounds like a party place for Criminals. Waste of taxpayers money

[pohakumana]

CLUB FED was FCI Pleasanton in the 80's it was CO-ED
It was WILD. It was a party, we played "Hide and go seek"