From Prison to Purpose: Helping Troubled Teens

From Prison to Purpose: Helping Troubled Teens Break the Cycle

I’ve kept my story quiet for a long time, but now I know it’s time to share it.

I was born to a single mother who fled her homeland to seek a better life in the United States. I grew up in all of the poorest neighborhoods in Wichita, Kansas. My father left before I could remember him. Poverty and survival shaped my earliest memories.

By 13, I helped found and started the biggest Vietnamese gang in the Midwest—a group that grew to over 40 members. From that point on, my life was consumed by the streets as a runaway. I eventually got caught and was sent to a boys home. I got out on probation, got expelled from school and placed on house arrest. I ended up cutting my bracelet and ran. Got caught and sent to another boys home. Once I got there, I ran again. This time when I got caught, I ended up going to boot camp. This was my entire juvenile teenage life. I was always on the run. 

At 16, I caught my first felony for auto theft and burglary and served a year in juvenile prison. Two months after my release, I was involved in a gang fight and was stabbed multiple times. I was drenched in blood and my life was slowly fading away. The medics arrived and I had to be airlifted to the hospital. I was dying for air and couldn’t breathe. I was losing consciousness and at this moment I knew I wasn’t going to make it. I started having tunnel vision as I knew my life was coming to an end. I ended up flatlining at the hospital and died. 

I remember before closing my eyes and taking my last breath I started praying to God. I asked for forgiveness and for a moment I thought I was at peace. It wasn’t until I woke up in the hospital that I had realized I had survived. I was stabbed 6 times and had a punctured lung. Every breath I was taking was being filled with blood. I was drowning in my own blood but for some reason, God wouldn’t let me go. My friend that was with me wasn’t so lucky. He had passed away with a stab wound to the heart. 

Once again I was arrested for violating my probation and sent back to Juvenile prison. I had one more week until I was 18. And on my 18th birthday, I was transferred straight to county jail. 

Six months later I was released and a whole new lifestyle had found me. It took me six months to become one of the biggest ecstasy distributors in the Midwest. I went from having nothing to making hundreds of thousands of dollars. I had the biggest gang, the money, the jewelry, the lifestyle—and I thought I had it all. But the truth is, I was battling a drug addiction behind the scenes. The same life that gave me fast money was also slowly killing me. And eventually, I lost it all.

At 21, the DEA brought everything crashing down. I was arrested in a federal takedown involving 20 individuals and 94 federal charges—19 of them were mine. I was facing over 20 years in prison but ended up serving 8 after a plea agreement. I was sent to a medium-high security federal facility.

I was released from prison over 12 years ago. I had just spent over a third of my life of being incarcerated due to poor life decisions and growing up without guidance in my life. So Today as I turn 40, I want to be able to give back. I’m launching a birthday fundraiser to support troubled teens growing up in poverty. These kids are walking the same path I once did, and I know firsthand how much one chance, one mentor, one helping hand can change a life.

Every dollar goes toward resources, mentorship, and opportunities for at-risk youth. No gift is too small—$10, $20, $50 can help a teen find hope instead of prison.

Who would have ever imagined I would be where I am today? Today I am forever thankful. I am happily married to my wife Lisa and we have a family of 6. I am blessed. I give all glory to God and he gives me purpose to do what I can today, and that’s to create a better tomorrow for troubled teens.

If you have known me since my teenage days and witnessed my story or if we have just met over the past 12 years and my past was unknown until now, I invite you to please share! Together let’s try and make a difference. With all my heart, I thank you. 

All proceeds from this fundraiser will go directly toward creating opportunities for troubled and at-risk youth through Lunar Pickleball. Additional proceeds will also go towards the children’s home and Youth horizons also.

If you know me, you know my love for pickleball. Funds will be used to also provide food supplies, and create safe spaces for mentorship and community programs — including outreach to refugee communities and youth affected by poverty and violence. I am proud to partner with Matt Nola on this mission to give kids hope, purpose, and a better path forward.