Former prisoner deported from US after living whole life there raises funds to fulfill dream of becoming an electrician ‘I’m not going to do anything that’s going to jeopardise my freedom. I’m turning my life around because of my mum’

Corey is 50, and lives in London. He’s been living in the capital for just over a year after 45 years living in the United States. He is asking for contributions to meet his £5,000 goal to pursue his dream of becoming an electrician.

My birth certificate said I was born in Brent Cross in London, but I moved to the US when I was five. My mom moved me and my entire family, me and my two sisters, across to New York City. She thought it was a better opportunity for us. She’s a single mother, and wanted America to provide the best opportunity possible.

New York City was a tough place. I really have no recollection of how bad it was, until I turned about 12. Back then it was tough. We had accents, so we got picked on, and we had to fight. We were never considered real New Yorkers, because we always had accents. We called my mom mum. I had a twin sister in the same grade, so we were able to protect each other. Through the adversity, it made our bonds stronger. A simple thing like your accent can change your whole life. If I would have had the right accent, I feel like I would have been okay.

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‘You can only go off what you see and know’

When I was young, I saw a lot of friends from the neighbourhood. I grew up in the Bronx, that’s when the crack epidemic started. I saw people hang out on my steps and corners selling drugs, especially the big basketball players who we looked up to, so we started to emulate them.

My mum was a single mother, so she couldn’t provide the best things for us. She definitely provided, and tried her best, but it still wasn’t enough. It was nothing to transition from a kid to a drug dealer. It’s all I knew and saw, so you can only go off what you see and know.

When I was 16 and getting into trouble, my mother tried to move us away from New York, and took us to Pennsylvania. She though that if we went further into a rural area, a nice suburb, we would be less likely to get into trouble. But coming from New York, where people are ahead of their years, coming to this little town in Pennsylvania that had no clue had the opposite effect on me. It didn’t turn me good, it turned me even worse.

When I moved to Pennsylvania, and went back and forth to New York, I realised drug dealing wasn’t right. But by then, I was making money and taking care of family, so I was just as addicted as a user: them to the drugs, and me to the money. A job that was meant to make ends meet lasted for ten years.

‘England took care of me from the beginning’

I was caught when some unnamed people told the police I was dealing. I was indicted, but I was never caught with drugs. All the police had to go by was word of mouth, but it didn’t matter: I was looking at 40 years in jail. I was 40 at the time, and they tried to give me 40. I pled guilty, and started to do my time, rather than taking the risk.

Before I got sentenced, homeland security came to visit, and they said that I would deported back to the UK. I said okay, why don’t you deport me now? But I had to do my time first.

England took care of me from the beginning. When I was sentenced, the British Consulate sent a letter through Prisoners Abroad, who keep in touch with prisoners from England all over the world. They’d said me newspapers, Time Out magazines, and stories about when prisoners first got back. Through that correspondence, I was given comfort. Before that, I had no knowledge on England. Thanks to them, I had better understanding of what England was about.

‘I wasn’t allowed to go to my mother’s funeral’

My mother died three years ago, and I wasn’t allowed to go to her funeral because I was in prison. I had to watch it on a VCR tape in a room by myself. She’s been my biggest supporter from day one. Her death really knocked me to the core and took everything out of me. I’m still trying to rebuild myself from that moment. She’s always tried to steer me right. I’ll never want to experience the inside of jail again – I’m not going to do anything that’s going to jeopardise my freedom. I’m turning my life around because of her.

When I was released from prison on 18 November 2018, I had two federal marshals escort me to the plane, and sat me there for the seven-hour ride. My children and friends all live in the States and I was alone, with no-one to reach out to. When I got off the plane in Heathrow, they gave me my belongings, and left me to my own accord. I got into Heathrow 9.30am. Me and another guy, who also got deported from the States after serving jail time, met up in the airport. We walked around for the night, and slept in Heathrow.

Luckily, an organisation associated with Prisoners Abroad gave us an Oyster Card and some money. When we got to Prisoners Abroad’s organisation, they helped us get a hostel.

I was honestly in shock for the first month or so. It was overwhelming. Even though I read up on stuff, it was still shocking. After ten years of jail, to be let out on a foreign land, when I haven’t been here for 45 years. I didn’t know what to do. But thankfully, I wasn’t allowed to mope around,I was given missions. Like getting my passport, an NHS card, steps to feeling like an actual person here. That kept depression at bay, because I didn’t have time to feel sorry for myself. If you mope, it’s going to make it hard.

‘I want to be able to give back’

I always liked working on homes. If I can get an electrician qualification, I can help my own destiny. Once I become an electrician and have the tools of the trade, and make my own way. I want financial independence. I don’t want to rely on a job to pay me per se. I can make a legal way for myself. Being an electrical engineer would be that opportunity. Even if I can ride around, it’s all a plus. Even with a job and contract, I can really make a way for myself here.

Beam is one of the best things to happen so far. House of St Barnabas referred me to Beam, an organisation that crowdfunds new career opportunities for homeless men and women. Even though I’m in the early stages of my residency, it’s all been pretty good. So far so good. They help you get to the financial support, and give you tools to work on your finances. They sat me down, and they made a list of all of my bills, a plan on how to go forward, stuff like that.

A lot has happened in a year, and I hope for more good fortune in the year ahead. I love England, and I’m so grateful for the people who have listened to me and given me another change. In 12 months, I will be working as an electrician, going for my NVQ 3. I hope to be helping somebody who has been in the same position as me, and mentor them, ready for life outside. And to whoever wants to listen, I’ll be spreading word about Beam. I want to be able to give back to my new home.

Corey is asking for donations here.