While federal crimes no longer have a parole hearing. to release someone early there’s a system of supervised release. That’s part of the original sentencing. Part of the sentence can be served by out of prison and meeting the supervision requirements. (cite) Getting Mueller to support supervised release during sentencing could be a big lever. From the same cite, good behavior can also reduce federal sentences by up to 54 days per year. Manafort’s ten years doesn’t mean he’ll spend ten years confined. He’s got a real chance of getting out while still alive if he can get supervised release and behaves while in. Throw on multiple extra convictions and that chance disappears.
The bigger mystery is why the hell he didn’t cooperate sooner.
I have read of supposedly posh “Club Fed” prisons but can someone cite an example of one? Where are these comfy joints?
The idea of a federal prison with fancy accommodations and gourmet food is obviously nonsense. But the Federal Prison Camps (a/k/a minimum security facilities) are awfully nice compared to even low security prison. No fencing, fewer guards, dormitory living. Since it’s going to be entirely made up of low risk, probably white-collar criminals, you’re going to have a better class of fellow resident
Here’s an article on life in a camp. I had a client once who was doing time in a camp; it sort of sounded like summer camp for old fat guys.
If i was guilty of a crime, or even likely to be convicted of one regardless of guilt, and I could make a deal to do my time in a camp, I’d take it in a heartbeat.
He’s just not that smart. Like many white collar criminals, he’s just bright enough to get himself into trouble and overestimated his ability to avoid getting caught. In the case of Manafort, he did very little to effectively conceal his crimes. He may also legitimately fear reprisal from some of the people he was dealing with. When you play with pigs, you’re going to get shit all over you, and Manafort stinks like an Iowa hog farm in July.
Stranger
If Trump hadn’t run for president, Manafort likely never would’ve faced prosecution for his crimes. So he wasn’t that dumb, he just hitched himself to a bigger moron and put a spotlight on himself in the process.
And here I thought placing a dichotomy between gitmo and 5-star hotels was obvious hyperbole but apparently you really have to try these days…
Still, He wasn’t exactly suffering either.
Have to be careful about that. Applying a tourniquet to a lip you’ve bitten clean through is not as easy as they make it look on TV. 
Frankly, I think Paul is hoping that if he rolls on Cheeto, he enters the Witness Protection Program and becomes the newest resident of Cody, Wyoming, or wherever it is they send former wiseguys and such. I hear “Sammy the Bull” hosts a mean neighborhood barbeque. Bring the coleslaw.
There was an exchange in “Arrested Development” between the son and the recently-convicted father, who is comfortably ensconced in a minimum-security prison:
S: “You’re doing time!”
F: “I’m doing the time of my life!”
“I am having a love affair with thjis ice cream sandwich. Want some?”
Stranger
That depends on your standards, doesn’t it?
I’ll give you less chance of physically violent, but no better than that.
How does that work? I get that he has prosecutorial discretion - at least I assume he must - but how does he document that he won’t prosecute someone else in a deal with Manafort?
But what is the life expectancy of a 69 year old prisoner? I don’t think a prison is a very healthful environment. Of course, he could get 10 years and be out in 3.
Well he is not going to be drinking and smoking while he is there. No rich food and most likely lots of time to exercise. This may add years to his life. Hell he might even get into a long term loving relationship! 