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.