By Ricardo Tello – November 2024
“It’s unfortunate that your wake up call was so loud” – Judge Underhill
On March 5, 2007, Ronald Trucchio, was sentenced to a term of life imprisonment. After a month-long trial, a jury delivered a guilty verdict for conducting affairs under racketeering criminal enterprise, within which included murder, robbery, extortion, and drug distribution. Trucchio spent most of his adult life as an associate within The Gambino Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra. Working his way up to become a captain, he eventually supervised criminal crews across New York, New Jersey, and Florida. After his conviction, it was clear that he was a significant danger to society, and would never have any hopes of being released.
Trucchio spent over twenty-one-years incarcerated in many different high security penitentiaries. Eleven of which were spent at USP Lewisburg, where he was diagnosed with progressive medical and physical conditions that would continue to worsen with his age. From the first day of his arrival in prison, Trucchio knew he could deny his situation, fight it and make it wrong or take his own free will and change. He set a personal goal to take every opportunity to rehabilitate himself, regardless if he would ever leave prison.
Trucchio began showing his commitment to change on day one. He knew that by avoiding disciplinary infractions, never complaining, and working hard, he could become a mentor for younger inmates. He took pride in his work and would constantly perform duties without being told. He was known for always being polite and respectful to correctional officers. During his time incarcerated, he began taking incremental steps to change. He created a release plan, with a goal set in education. His determination led him to the completion of 3,700 hours of Bureau of Prisons (BOP) programming, 2,400 hours of training as a housekeeping apprentice, and 480 hours of independent college study, earning him an associates degree from a university. In over twenty-years he was able to demonstrated that he was no longer a danger to any individual or the community. Trucchio perseverance eventually paid off. BOP officials began to write letters on his behalf, regarding his extraordinary rehabilitation. Even the warden of the institution recognized him, “as always being respectful towards staff and other inmates.”
After many years of exhausting all administrative remedies within the BOP. On November 12, 2024, Trucchio submitted a motion to grant a reduction in his sentence for his extraordinary rehabilitation. After careful review the court determined, “that his clean disciplinary record showed he conducted himself well in prison. He demonstrated to be an exemplary, polite, and hard-working inmate; he served as a leader, role model and mentor for younger inmates; he obtained an associate’s degree and remained positive and productive notwithstanding he was facing a life in prison with no chance of release.” With the support of his family and his expressed extreme remorse for his criminal actions, on November 22, 2024 the court granted time considered served to Ronald J. Trucchio and was released from imprisonment.
The day this case was published, I was deeply touched by knowing that a period of your life does not determine who you are as a person. Your actions, do not define you values and principles. And most importantly your situation does not affect your attitude. Although, I could never overlook the terrible crimes Trucchio committed, I admire his determination to transform his life
even though he knew he would be in prison for the rest of it. I have heard of many people in similar situations that never change, or even worsen as time goes by, becoming bigger criminals while in prison and causing further harm and pain to society. It takes courage in jail to go against the current, you are constantly surrounded by hate, sadness and worst of all lost hope. It all starts with attitude, taking tiny steps everyday, the small actions we perform when no one is looking, and simply waking up the best version of ourselves. It takes the same amount of effort to wake up happy as it does to wake up sad. After reading this case, I knew I wanted to share this inspiring story to show that change is possible. It is hard for me to think of what a life sentence even begins to look like. But this story is further proof that our conditions and our environment do not dictate our outcome. Extraordinary rehabilitation is possible. We can be determined to change even with all the challenges presented through our journey. Remember that we have the power to choose our attitude, initiative and proactivity to transform our life and be successful.