Locked In with Ian Bick

Ernie Leon shares a story of survival, violence, and redemption. Growing up in Arizona, Ernie fell into addiction and gang life at a young age, which led to an armed robbery conviction and time in the Arizona prison system. After getting into trouble behind the walls, he was sent to maximum-security prison, where survival became a daily battle. Following his release, tragedy struck when Ernie witnessed his brother get shot and killed, and Ernie himself was shot and paralyzed. Despite everything, he was later sent back to Arizona max prison on another armed robbery case. In this conversation, Ernie breaks down the realities of Arizona maximum-security prisons, the consequences of street life, and what it takes to keep going after losing everything. _____________________________________________ #PrisonSurvival #TrueCrimeStories #MaximumSecurityPrison #ArizonaPrison #LifeAfterPrison #SurvivalStory #PrisonLife #RedemptionStory _____________________________________________ Connect with Ernie Leon: YouTube Channel: @ErnieLeon-vh9eu Facebook: Ernie Leon Instagram: erni.eleon1983 TikTok: @ernie.leon07 _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: Ernie’s Life, Crime & Consequences 03:34 Growing Up in South Phoenix: Violence, Poverty & Survival 06:00 Family Trauma, Addiction & Early Warning Signs 09:17 Gang Life, Street Loyalty & Losing Loved Ones 13:13 First Prison Sentence: Entering the System 17:38 Racial Politics & Survival Inside Prison 22:00 Prison Gangs, Violence & Daily Threats 25:45 Life in Special Management Units (SMU) 30:36 Release From Prison, Family Pressure & Relapse 35:35 Trying to Save His Brother & Returning to the Streets 40:44 The Night Everything Changed: The Shooting 45:39 Aftermath of the Shooting: Loss, Paralysis & Trauma 50:07 Arrested Again: Facing the System Once More 54:48 Going Back to Prison While Paralyzed 01:01:41 Identity, Loyalty & Reality Behind Bars 01:07:02 Hitting Rock Bottom & Finding Faith 01:11:20 Getting Sober & Choosing a Different Life 01:14:34 Life After Prison: Recovery, Setbacks & Struggles 01:16:43 Lessons Learned & Advice to His Younger Self 01:17:38 Final Thoughts, Redemption & Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Collette spent years working inside the criminal justice system as a New York probation officer before leaving to become a federal probation officer. In this episode, Paul pulls back the curtain on what probation really looks like, sharing real stories from the job while breaking down the biggest myths and truths the public gets wrong. He talks about supervising violent criminals and sex offenders, handling high-risk situations, and the daily pressure of balancing public safety with rehabilitation. From the differences between state and federal probation to the realities of working with dangerous individuals, this conversation offers an unfiltered, insider look at life behind the badge and what it truly means to work inside the probation system. _____________________________________________ #ProbationOfficer #CriminalJustice #TrueCrimePodcast #LawEnforcementStories #PrisonSystem #JusticeSystem #BehindTheBadge #realcrimestory _____________________________________________ Connect with Paul Collette: https://sapservicesct.com/about Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: Supervising High-Risk Offenders on Probation 02:00 Meet Paul Collette: Life After 20+ Years in Probation 05:00 Therapy, Family & Rebuilding After Law Enforcement 07:00 Growing Up in a Military Family & Constant Relocation 11:00 Early Influences That Shaped His Career Path 14:00 Social Work vs Law Enforcement: Choosing Probation 17:00 First Jobs & Breaking Into the Probation System 20:00 Becoming a New York Probation Officer 24:00 The Reality of Probation Work: Stress, Risk & Responsibility 29:00 Probation Officers vs Police: Power, Authority & Limits 33:00 Supervising Dangerous Offenders: Daily Risks on the Job 38:00 Empathy vs Enforcement: How the Job Changes You 40:00 Transitioning From State to Federal Probation 44:00 Inside Federal Probation: Reports, Caseloads & Pressure 48:00 Judges, Sentencing & the Flaws in the Justice System 53:00 How Much Power Does a Probation Officer Really Have? 58:00 Transfers, Burnout & Career Turning Points 01:02:00 Becoming a Federal Sex Offender Specialist 01:09:00 Supervising Sex Offenders: Monitoring, Limits & Reality 01:17:00 Recidivism: Why the System Struggles to Prevent Reoffending 01:23:00 Restitution, Supervision & Overlooked System Details 01:28:00 Cooperators, PSI Reports & Prison Outcomes 01:34:00 Mental Health, Trauma & the Hidden Cost of the Job 01:41:00 Why He Finally Left Probation After 20+ Years 01:48:00 Advice for Returning Citizens & People on Supervision 01:53:00 Life After Probation: Therapy, Teaching & Helping Others 01:57:00 Final Thoughts on the Justice System & Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Max B sits down with Ian Bick for a raw, open & honest conversation about his life, music, and surviving more than 15 years behind bars. He opens up about growing up in Harlem, his first prison sentence at Rikers Island and in New York State prison, and how he initially got into music and rose to fame. Max B then breaks down his second arrest, being sentenced to 75 years in prison, and what it took to survive New Jersey State Prison while continuing to put out music from behind the walls. He also shares how his sentence was eventually reduced, the mindset that kept him going, and what it’s been like finally getting out of prison and moving forward with his life. _____________________________________________ #MaxB #PrisonStory #NewJerseyStatePrison #PrisonSurvival #HipHopStories #LifeAfterPrison #TrueCrimeStories #redemptionstory _____________________________________________ Connect with Max B: https://www.instagram.com/maxb140/?hl=en Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Max B Speaks Out After Prison Release 03:10 Growing Up in Harlem, New York 05:10 Family Life, Values & Early Influences 08:00 School, Youth Trouble & Street Life 11:50 First Time in Prison: Jail Experience & Finding Music 17:40 Discovering Music as a Way Out 21:30 First Release & Breaking Into the Music Industry 25:00 Back on the Streets & Second Arrest 29:00 Facing a 75-Year Prison Sentence 32:00 Making Music While Incarcerated 34:40 Life Inside New Jersey Maximum Security Prison 39:00 Violence, Survival & Prison Hustles 44:20 Social Media, Fame & Cultural Impact 47:40 Family, Children & Time Lost Behind Bars 50:00 Sentence Reduction & Getting Released 54:30 Prison Food, Cookbooks & Hustling Inside 01:00:00 Life After Prison: Freedom & Reentry 01:06:00 Building New Memories & What’s Next 01:08:40 Advice for the Next Generation & Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Crosby shares how getting caught selling drugs led him from a Rhode Island county jail to serving time in a state prison. In this episode, Matt breaks down the choices that put him on that path, what county jail was really like compared to state prison, and how incarceration forced him to confront the reality of his decisions. He speaks honestly about the mindset that comes with drug dealing, the shock of incarceration, and the long-lasting impact prison has on your life even after release. _____________________________________________ #PrisonStory #RhodeIslandPrison #TrueCrime #LifeInPrison #RealLifeStory #CrimeAndPunishment #ExConStory #prisonexperience _____________________________________________ Thank you to FRONTLINE HEALING FOUNDATION for sponsoring this episode: Visit https://frontlinehealingfoundation.org/ to donate or share their mission. _____________________________________________ Connect with Matt Crosby: Instagram: babershop_matt Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Getting Raided at a Young Age & Early Criminal Trouble 02:20 Meet Matt: New Hustles, New Opportunities 03:30 Growing Up in Providence, Rhode Island 05:35 Family Life, Childhood Trauma & Home Environment 07:10 Getting in Trouble Young & Pushing Limits 09:00 First Arrest: My Introduction to the System 12:30 High School, Alternative Programs & Being Labeled 13:40 The Bag of Money That Changed Everything 16:00 Life as a Small-Time Dealer & Street Reality 20:15 The Raid That Ended It All: Arrest & Charges 22:28 Jail Intake: First Night Locked Up 24:18 Doing Time in Minimum Security Prison 27:07 Daily Prison Life: Group Showers & No Privacy 29:15 Prison Food, Fights, and Contraband 32:40 Prison Politics, Respect & Social Hierarchy 37:00 Release Day, Probation & Adjusting to Freedom 39:20 Life After Prison: New Struggles & Temptations 45:00 Parenting After Prison: Morals & Responsibility 51:15 Breaking the Cycle & Repairing Family Relationships 55:30 Final Reflections: Growth, Regret & Redemption Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt Runge shares his honest & cautionary life story — from joining the U.S. Army because he didn’t know what else to do with his life, to being kicked out of the military and sent to military prison for selling drugs. After his release, Matt explains how he continued down the same destructive path, dealing drugs on the outside and repeatedly landing in both federal and state prison. In this episode, he breaks down the mindset that kept pulling him back into crime, what life was really like inside different prison systems, and how those experiences forced him to confront his choices. This honest conversation dives into military life, prison, addiction, accountability, and the long road to breaking cycles, making it a powerful watch for anyone interested in true crime, prison stories, and real-life redemption. _____________________________________________ #TrueCrime #PrisonStory #VeteranStory #LifeAfterPrison #CrimeAndPunishment #RedemptionStory #FederalPrison #reallifestory _____________________________________________ Thank you to FRONTLINE HEALING FOUNDATION for sponsoring this episode: Visit https://frontlinehealingfoundation.org/ to donate or share their mission. _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction & Guest Background 02:30 Growing Up in North Jersey 06:00 ADHD, School Struggles & Early Trouble 09:00 DJing, Nightclubs & the Party Lifestyle 12:00 High School Expulsion & Losing Direction 15:30 Joining the Army & Being Stationed in Korea 18:30 Club Life Overseas, Drugs & Selling While Enlisted 22:00 First Military Arrest & Getting Busted 26:00 Inside Military Prison: What It’s Really Like 30:00 Release, Returning Home & Going Back to Hustling 33:30 New Jersey Arrests & State Prison Experience 39:00 Hustle Mentality & Surviving Prison Life 42:30 Repeat Offenses & Catching a Federal Case 50:30 Federal Prison Life: Hustling, Cards & Food 55:00 Release, Club Work & Finding New Hustles 01:00:00 South Carolina Arrest & Another Prison Stretch 01:10:00 Parole, Final Sentence & Looking Back 01:15:00 Life After Prison & Lessons Learned 01:18:30 Final Reflections, Regret & Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a short thank-you and holiday message to everyone who’s been locked in this year. I just wanted to take a moment to show my appreciation for the support, the messages, the listens, and the love you’ve shown the show. Wishing you and your families a happy, healthy holiday season and a strong start to the new year. I couldn’t do this without you. Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jill Ford never expected to find herself in prison. Entrepreneurial from a young age, she built a successful business fueled by ambition and growth — but overspending and financial pressure during the pandemic led her to fraudulently use pandemic relief loans, ultimately resulting in federal charges and prison time in Texas. In this episode of Locked In with Ian Bick, Jill opens up about the decisions that changed her life, what federal prison was really like, and how incarceration forced a complete reset. She also shares firsthand insight into serving time alongside Elizabeth Holmes and Jen Shah, offering a raw, cautionary story about ambition, consequences, and rebuilding after prison. _____________________________________________ #TrueCrime #FederalPrison #Fraud #PrisonStory #CrimeAndPunishment #ExCon #PrisonLife #truecrimestory _____________________________________________ Thank you to FRONTLINE HEALING FOUNDATION for sponsoring this episode: Visit https://frontlinehealingfoundation.org/ to donate or share their mission. Connect with Jill Ford: Tik Tok: BitcoinJill Instagram: BitcoinJill X: BitcoinJill Youtube: orangeisthenewjill Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 The Moment Everything Changed 03:38 Inside a Women’s Federal Prison Camp 07:20 Starting a Podcast After Prison 10:10 Federal Restitution, Debt & Financial Consequences 15:40 Family Background & Work Ethic Growing Up 20:49 High School, College & Early Ambition 25:18 Marriage, Career Beginnings & Becoming a Mother 27:55 Building a Successful Online Apparel Business 30:43 Business Mistakes, Debt & Financial Collapse 36:34 COVID Loans, Desperation & Criminal Decisions 41:01 Bankruptcy, Legal Pressure & Losing Everything 49:36 Federal Investigation & Realizing Prison Was Coming 55:00 Guilt, Family Impact & Facing Federal Charges 01:00:38 Entering Bitcoin & Trying to Start Over 01:04:42 Indictment, Pretrial Release & Plea Deal 01:10:07 Sentencing Day: Shock, Fear & Reality 01:13:52 Divorce, Family Breakdown & Rebuilding Trust 01:16:11 Self-Surrender & First Days in Federal Prison 01:20:00 Daily Life Inside Prison Camp 01:27:00 Notable Inmates & Unexpected Prison Encounters 01:34:13 Prison vs. Halfway House: Release Explained 01:39:02 Probation, Supervised Release & Life After Prison 01:42:20 Healing, Accountability & Advice for the Future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Harper grew up in Cleveland, Ohio with a good family and a normal upbringing, but at just 16 years old he made a decision that would change his life forever. While still in high school and later in college, Alex began robbing banks, eventually landing on the radar of federal authorities and being sent to federal prison for the first time. After his release, he tried to turn his life around, but bad decisions and old patterns pulled him back in, leading to more bank robberies and a second prison sentence. In this episode, Alex shares how he went from a regular kid to a repeat federal inmate, what federal prison was really like, and how he eventually found his purpose and truly turned his life around. _____________________________________________ #TrueCrime #PrisonStories #FederalPrison #BankRobbery #LifeAfterPrison #CrimeStory #RedemptionStory #LockedInWithIanBick _____________________________________________ Thank you to K9S.ORG for sponsoring this episode: Donate anytime at https://k9s.org/ Connect with Alex Harper: https://www.instagram.com/votealexharper/?hl=en Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Robbing Banks at 16 – How It All Started 01:35 First Arrest, Probation & Learning the System 04:22 Life After Prison: Supervision, Temptation & Pressure 06:00 Family, Childhood & Where Things Went Wrong 09:00 Early Gambling Addiction & Sports Betting Obsession 13:25 High School Double Life & First Bank Robbery 15:53 Escalation: More Robberies & How He Avoided Getting Caught 21:22 Bank Robbery Tactics, Mistakes & Hard Lessons Learned 25:54 College Life, Personality & Living Two Lives 29:44 Law School Dreams vs. Gambling Addiction 35:23 Getting Caught: The Moment Everything Fell Apart 41:31 First Time in Prison: Survival, Hustling & Reality Check 53:54 Running Gambling Operations Behind Bars 01:03:12 Released From Prison… Then Slipping Back 01:13:20 Second Sentence & Destroying Family Relationships 01:27:00 Depression, Accountability & Choosing Change 01:37:20 Life After Prison: Recidivism, Struggles & Reality 01:55:24 Finding Purpose, Giving Back & Redefining Success 02:08:00 Why the System Makes It Hard to Stay Free (Final Thoughts) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Immesberger spent over 20 years as a New York ATF agent, working undercover, taking down violent criminals, dismantling gun-trafficking networks, and operating inside some of the most dangerous environments in the country. In this episode, Eric shares the real stories behind his career—from his early years as a Brooklyn detective to high-risk federal operations, major crime investigations, and the intense pressure of hunting armed offenders in New York. He opens up about the violence he witnessed, the criminals he pursued, the psychological toll of undercover work, and the personal sacrifices required to do the job. This interview dives deep into the realities of federal law enforcement: firearms trafficking, gang cases, task-force operations, trauma, mental health, and life after retirement. If you’re interested in true crime, federal agents, New York law enforcement, or raw stories of danger, survival, and justice, this is one of the most revealing conversations you’ll hear. _____________________________________________ #ATFAgent #FederalAgent #LawEnforcementStories #CrimeInterview #UndercoverOperations #TrueCrimePodcast #JusticeSystem #lockedinpodcast _____________________________________________ Thanks to AURA FRAMES, BLUECHEW & PRIZEPICKS for sponsoring this episode: Aura Frames: Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/LOCKEDIN. Promo Code LOCKEDIN BlueChew: Get 10% off your first month of BlueChew Gold with code LOCKEDIN. Visit https://bluechew.com/ for more details and important safety information Prizepicks: Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/IANBICK and use code IANBICK and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! _____________________________________________ Connect with Eric Immesberger: Website: https://www.ericimmesberger.com/ Support his wood work business: https://www.instagram.com/sendit_woodworking/ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 – The Mindset of Cooperation: ATF, First Impressions & Federal Reality 03:30 – From the Ground Up: Early Career & Entering Law Enforcement 10:00 – Growing Up Hard: Tough Childhood, Discipline & Survival Lessons 15:00 – Why I Became a Cop: Influences, Motivation & Education 22:00 – Becoming a Detective: College to the Brooklyn DA’s Office 27:00 – Federal Guidelines & Cooperation: The Decisions That Change Lives 36:00 – Confidential Informants: The Gray Area Between Justice & Survival 45:00 – Inside Federal Prison: Chaos, Power & Unspoken Rules 01:01:00 – Undercover Operations & Wild Prison Stories 01:14:00 – Breaking Into the ATF: Obsession, Rejection & Relentless Drive 01:22:00 – Explosive Federal Case: The “House of Gay” Home Invasion 01:38:00 – Entrapment vs. Real Criminals: How ATF Builds Cases 01:47:00 – Gunfights, Chases & Leadership Under Fire 02:08:00 – The Violent World of Federal Law Enforcement: Mental Toll & Trauma 02:24:00 – Walking Away: Retirement, Burnout & The True Cost of the Job 02:34:00 – Final Reflections: Street Lessons, Storytelling & Life Advice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saffron Gustafson shares her experience transitioning from a career in the medical field to becoming the focus of an FBI investigation after she filed a lawsuit against a major insurance company. In this interview, Saffron explains why she took legal action, how the situation escalated, and the chain of events that eventually led to federal charges and prison time. She talks about navigating the legal system, the impact the case had on her work and family, what she learned from the process, and how she moved forward after serving her sentence _____________________________________________ #FBIStory #WrongfulConviction #PrisonStory #FederalCase #TrueCrimePodcast #GovernmentOverreach #JusticeSystem #LockedInPodcast _____________________________________________ Thanks to AURA FRAMES & BLUECHEW for sponsoring this episode: Aura Frames: Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/LOCKEDIN. Promo Code LOCKEDIN BlueChew: Get 10% off your first month of BlueChew Gold with code LOCKEDIN. Visit https://bluechew.com/ for more details and important safety information _____________________________________________ Connect with Saffron Gustafson: My Name Is Saffron is Available on Amazon: Buy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/g4lx7b8 Website: www.MyNameIsSaffron.com Instagram: @mynameissaffronbook Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Life Before Prison & Early Success 02:27 Writing the Book: Telling the Story for the First Time 05:00 Upbringing, Family Values & Small-Town Roots 08:00 Becoming an Entrepreneur & Business Owner 13:00 Building a Successful Medical Business 19:00 Insurance Disputes, Audits & Legal Pressure 23:00 The Lawsuit That Changed Everything 26:00 FBI Raid & the Beginning of Federal Trouble 31:00 Facing Federal Charges & Public Fallout 38:00 Plea Deal, Conviction & Sentencing 43:00 Federal Prison: Life Inside Dublin FCI 54:00 Prison Conditions, Isolation & Solitary Confinement 01:02:00 Halfway House, Reentry & Release 01:09:00 Probation, Restitution & Life After Prison 01:13:00 Rebuilding Life, Purpose & Helping Others 01:16:00 Lessons Learned & Final Reflections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices