Frederic Berthoff

Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania in 1955, I became involved in the ganja trade in 1970 and was arrested for hashish trafficking in 1993. For my first conviction of any crime ever, I was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison and served a full 18 years before being released to five years probation.

I write stories and poetry and paint oil paintings for recreation. I have worked on farms, sweeping streets and shovelling snow as a youth. Now I work selling musical instruments. My daughter Jessica is nineteen years old and lives in Florida. My PEN prize goes to her.


Articles by Frederic Berthoff

Prison and Justice Writing
Thursday November 15

Chessman’s Lunch

I poke at my salad, / sip water from a plastic cup / my corner fiefdom overrun now by strangers / a compromised rook / removed from the board

Prison and Justice Writing
Tuesday June 24

The Glass House

Loud-ass motherfucker was sitting on the upper tier watching the game. It was on the Sports T.V. (the Black T.V.), which with the General Viewing (White) T.V. and the Spanish T.V. were bolted to the wall of what was originally designed as the common area but due to overcrowding and certain other circumstances had recently