Samourai Letter #4: Notes From The Inside

It is January 19th, 2026, and I find myself incarcerated in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for 31 days. Time in prison seems to move at a peculiar pace – both dragging on endlessly and slipping away faster than I can comprehend. The days crawl by, each minute feeling like an hour, yet it feels like just yesterday that I surrendered myself to FPC Morgantown.

Judge Denise Cote sentenced me to 60 months of incarceration, with one month already behind me. The prison environment is alien and designed to frustrate. Everything seems backwards, as if the system is intentionally set up to confound and disorient.

For instance, the waiting list for basic dental care includes inmates from all BOP facilities nationwide, causing unnecessary delays. The logic behind such decisions is baffling, leading many of us to joke that “BOP” stands for “Backwards On Purpose”.

Despite the challenges, I have managed to establish a routine in prison, a crucial aspect according to seasoned inmates. I wake up at 4:00 AM, relishing the solitude before the day begins. My makeshift “prison latte” – a mixture of powdered milk and instant coffee – fuels my early morning writing sessions.

The prison day is punctuated by frequent headcounts, reminding us of our confined reality. Motivational posters adorn the walls, their clichéd messages contrasting sharply with the harsh reality of incarceration. One poster, ironically proclaiming, “You are only incarcerated by the walls you build yourself,” never fails to elicit a wry chuckle.

My days are filled with assigned tasks, including my role as a “Bathroom Orderly” – essentially a janitor. Cleaning up after fellow inmates is a thankless job, but I take pride in maintaining a semblance of cleanliness in a less-than-sanitary environment.

Amidst the monotony, I cherish moments of connection with the outside world. Daily phone calls to loved ones, limited to 15 minutes each, and the crackling AM/FM radio are lifelines to normalcy in a world of confinement.

As I mark one month in prison, I reflect on the surreal nature of this experience. It often feels like a never-ending nightmare, a dream from which I cannot awaken. Yet, I remain hopeful, looking forward to the day when I can rejoin my family and resume my life outside these walls.

Thank you for reading,

Keonne Rodriguez

Write to Keonne:
Keonne Rodriguez
11404-511
FPC Morgantown
FEDERAL PRISON CAMP
P.O. BOX 1000
MORGANTOWN, WV 26507

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This article is a guest post by Keonne Rodriguez. Opinions expressed are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc or Bitcoin Magazine.