Table Of ContentTHE CELL BLOCK PRESENTS…
Table of Contents
Title Page
SURVIVING PRISON
WELCOME TO THE CELL BLOCK…
TABLE OF CONTENTS
USE YOUR TIME WISLEY
WRITING
PEN-PAL WEBSITES: THE STRATEGIES
MINI-WRITING
SURVIVING A CELLY | (CELL-LIVING ETIQUETTE)
SOCIAL GAME
REPUTATION
SURVIVING PRISON FOOD
PRUNO
WHITE LIGHTNING
RUNNING A STORE
TAILOR/IRONER
BARBER
STATE PRISON JOBS
PRISON ART
GAMBLING
DOPE GAME
SURVIVING THE HOLE
FISHING
WRITING IN CODE(S)
SIGN LANGUAGE
MENTAL HEALTH
WORKING OUT
FIRE
PRISON-MADE CANDLES
WEAPONRY
WARFARE
THE BOOKS
PAROLING FROM PRISON (MY 2 CENTS)
Glossary
About the Author
About the Publisher
SURVIVING PRISON
Published by: THE CELL BLOCK™
THE CELL BLOCK
P.O. Box 1025
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741
FACEBOOK/thecellblock.net
Copyright© 2017 by The Cell Block
Cover artwork by: Mike Enemigo
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in re-
trieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, me-
chanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of
the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published re-
views.
WELCOME TO THE CELL BLOCK…
Murder. That is the crime I was convicted of in 2002 for a 1998 drug-rob-
bery gone wrong, and for which I was sentenced to life without the possibility of
parole, and it is not the first time I’ve been incarcerated; it is the third. In fact,
since I was born into this world May 1979, I have only been free one time since
the age of 15, and that was for 17 months. The rest of my life (do the math)
has been spent in one prison cell or another; as will the remainder should the
State of California have their way.
But the point here is not to get into the details of my crime and case; that is
an entirely different book (Conspiracy Theory). The point here is to show those
of you who are reading this because you are about to come to prison or are in
prison the ways I’ve learned to survive, through trial and error and hands-on ex-
perience over many, many years, in hopes you will better endure your time
here; and those of you who are reading this to get an inside look into the inner-
workings of the devil’s playground, an authentic experience you will get
nowhere else. After all, this isn’t Orange is the New Black; or even Shashank
Redemption, American Me, or some other Hollywood-made fictional to portray a
very real reality in an effort to make a pretty penny off an ugly truth. This is an
authentic insider’s-only look into an infamous and treacherous community full
of loneliness, misery, pain, depression, hopelessness, anger, violence, betrayal,
brutes, bullies, all-around suffering, and how one can best endure it. This book
will not only expose you to such a raw display, but also reveal many secrets
known only to those of us who have participated.
Not only am I an expert on the subject of being a prisoner and how to sur-
vive prison because the amount of time I’ve spent inside, but because I’ve per-
sonally participated in and experienced all of which I write. Though I do not
admit membership, I am a validated gang member. I’ve done time with mem-
bers of the Mexican Mafia, Aryan Brotherhood, Black Guerrilla Family, and
everything else that exists. I’ve smuggled in and sold drugs. I’ve participated in
and orchestrated numerous assaults. I’ve been on both sides of the knife. In
fact, when I started this book in 2010, my friend and I was in the hole for stab-
bing and slicing another inmate who committed an unforgivable offense. As I
write this introduction now in 2017 (I put this book on the shelf while I tended
to other endeavors), I’m in the hole pending the outcome of an investigation
after an attempt was made on my own life, where I was sliced across my face
with a razor, from under my right ear towards my chin (he was going for my
neck but missed), leaving me with a wound closed with 13 metal staples. It is
the third time I’ve been stabbed or sliced. By now such things are routine; at
most, a mere inconvenience or petty nuisance – like that nose hair you just
can’t quite get, or that fruit fly that keeps coming into your peripheral while
you’re tending to extremely important business, such as…staring at the wall.
You should not assume that typical prison shenanigans listed thus far are
my only credentials. Since being in prison I’ve mastered the art of turning nega-
tives into positives; a vital key to survival. I decided long ago that, if I’m going to
be here, I’ll not only learn to survive, but thrive. Since then, I’ve founded The
Cell Block, an independent multimedia company with the objective of accu-
rately conveying the prison/street experience and culture, with the credibility
and honesty that only one who has lived it can deliver, through literature and
other arts, and to entertain and enlighten while doing so. Every book or product
is created by a prisoner, in a prison cell. We are a network of prisoners, who,
against all odds, come together to accomplish, achieve, and improve the
lifestyle of our community. As you can see, I turn prison (negative) to profit (pos-
itive). The fact that you have a need, or a at least a certain fascination to learn
about prison culture, is the reason I wrote this book, something that will enter-
tain and enlighten you, but that I, too, will benefit from….
Most of the information you have regarding the topics of prison is from
movies, TV, rap songs, or whatever else has capitalized off what has become
part of pop culture. But while the closest you’ve come as of yet to being
trapped inside a concrete cage is watching an episode of Locked Down or
Locked Up from your comfy sofa, it is my daily reality. Every word in this book
was written in one prison cell or another, then somehow smuggled to the free
world so I can present to you the secrets and truths “they” don’t want you to
know. “They” don’t want me to show prisoners how to turn their negatives to
positives, and give the public an authentic, insider’s look, all without having to
set foot inside a cell. “They” don’t want me to give you the truth. Fortunately for
you, I’ve never much concerned myself with what “they” want….
Throughout this “manual” I will not only show you how to pimp your time by
turning your negatives into positives, I will show you everything from prison
recipes and hustles, to how to make alcohol, tattoo guns, and deadly weapons
out of even the barest of materials. I will show you how we ingeniously get fire
from our electrical outlet if we need to burn something, and how we write
codes that are impossible for even so-called experts to figure out. I will show
you how we meticulously study and master the art of seduction and manipula-
tion, and how we get in tip-top, combat ready shape, without access to
“weights” or a “gym.” In this book you will learn how to start and run your own
drug operation inside of prison for more profits than what the COs who’ve been
hired to keep us here and prevent us from doing so are paid. All of this and
much, much more, of course. Last, but certainly not least, this book will show
you what you need to do to increase the possibility of paroling from prison, and
not only get out, but stay out. After all, getting out and staying out is the ulti-
mate step to successfully surviving one’s experience with the devil’s play-
ground.
So, if you think you’ve got what it takes, grab your shanks and get ready to
ride.
Authentically,
Mike Enemigo
Thee Enemy of the State
Live from The Cell Block
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Use Your Time Wisely 1
Writing 8
Pen-Pal Websites: The Strategies 29
Mini-Writing 39
Surviving a Celly 41
Social Game 50
Reputation 58
Surviving Prison Food 64
Pruno 76
White Lightening 81
Running a Store 83
Tailor/Ironer 85
Barber 86
State Prison Jobs 87
Prison Art 92
Gambling 108
Dope Game 114
Surviving the Hole 128
Fishing 133
Writing in Code(s) 138
Sign Language 142
Mental Health 144
Working Out 147
Fire 159
Prison-Made Candles 162
Weaponry 163
Warfare 171
The Books 181
Paroling From Prison (my 2 cents) 206
Glossary 210
USE YOUR TIME WISLEY
I understand that you are probably in prison for something that you did not
do. Or, maybe you did something, but not what “they” said you did. Maybe you
did do a crime, but the prosecutor railroaded you and you were given way too
much time for what it is you actually did. Or, maybe you did everything “they”
said you did plus some, and you just got caught. Whatever your situation is, I
get it. But what I also get is that you are here (in prison), and this is where
you’re going to stay unless your appeal gets granted or your release date ar-
rives (if you’re lucky enough to have one).
That is the reality of your situation today, so it’s time to accept your reality
and deal with it as it is today, and as it is today you’ve got time to do. With that
said, your best play is to figure out how to benefit from said time; turn your neg-
ative into a positive. Here’s how…
Don’t waste time:
I see so many prisoners just sitting around and doing absolutely nothing. All
they do is let time (life) pass by without doing anything to benefit themselves,
improve their lifestyle, prepare for the future, etc. They have no drive or ambi-
tion. They just walk around looking defeated; straight schmuckery.
Many guys come to prison and do 5, 6, 7 years, and leave no better of a
man than they came. I recently met a 30 year old who came to prison and
could not read or write. He’s been in prison for the last 6 years and he goes
home in 3 months. Guess what? He still cannot read or write. He talks about
how he’s going to learn when he “goes home.” He asked me what type of ad-
vice I have for him; I told him he needed my advice during his first 3 months,
not his last 3 months. He asked me why that was; I asked him if he can learn to
read and write in 3 months. He stated “no.” My response? “Exactly” (followed
by my turning around and walking away).
The guy I’m talking about is an absolute schmuck. His waste of 6 years, dis-
gusting. As much as I want people to win, and as much as I try to assist people
in doing so, I realized that there was/is nothing I can do for him. Sad, but true.
Not only did the guy waste 6 years of his life, but, as much as I hate to say
it, he will be wasting more time soon. He will be back; probably before I get out
of the SHU for my last hit….
I have life in prison. Unless something happens with my appeal, I will die in
a cell. What I wouldn’t give for another shot at life now that I’m older and wiser,
now that I get it and my perspective is clear. However, despite what my situa-
tion is, my reality; I’m pushing daily. I’m trying to get it; understand? Every day I
am on beast mode. Like 50 Cent said: Get rich or die tryin’.
With that out the way, nothing is more disgusting to me than someone who
comes to prison and will be out someday, as he has a date, but does nothing
with his time except jack off and God knows what else, gets out no better of a
man than he entered, and ends up coming right back.
Do not waste time (life). Turn your “negative” into a positive and benefit
from your situation. Figure out (early on!) what you want to do during your stay
in prison, what it’s going to take to do it, and get down to business.
So, what do you want to do?
Now that we understand that it is our wisest move to turn our negative into
a positive and we must figure out how we can get the most out of our time, it’s
time to figure out exactly what you want to do.
The first question is what are you into that at least some aspect of can be
mastered while you are in prison, and that is realistic considering the amount
of prison time that you have?
For example, maybe you want to be an artist of some kind. If so, then during
your stay in prison you should study, learn, and practice drawing as much as
you can each day. If your goal is to be a professional artist and you have 5-6
years in prison, imagine how good you can be by the time you get out if you
dedicate every second of your time learning and practicing it!
And let’s say you want to get out and paint murals on cars or do graphic de-
sign. Maybe in prison you will not be able to practice those specific crafts, but
you can master at least one aspect of them: Drawing. Yes; if you want to paint
murals on cars or do graphic design, then become the best that you can at
drawing while you’re in prison because both of those jobs demand the trained
eye of an artist who can draw. The better you are at drawing, the better you will
be as a muralist or graphic designer.
Drawing is a good passion to have for a man in prison. It’s something that
can realistically be mastered right from your prison cell. You will almost always
have access to a pen and/or pencil and a piece of paper to practice your craft.
And, even if you’re not going to get out of prison, drawing is one of the best
skills you can have while in prison; there’s always a demand for it. From your
fellow prisoners to Correctional Officers, from pen pals to people online, great
drawings will always be in demand, and there is even a market specifically for
prison art/drawings.
Writing is another good passion to have. It’s very realistic to become a mas-
ter writer from a prison cell. You will almost always have a pen and some paper
to write what it is that you want to write/create.
For example, maybe you want to write and publish your own books. Well,
you can always get books on how to write properly and self-publish. Get the
books relevant to those subjects and learn the entire business, inside and out.
Then, write as many books as you can so that when you get out you can publish
them. Or, if you’re not getting out, publishing books from prison is a realistic
goal. It can be done; especially with today’s technology. Today’s technology, es-
pecially the Internet, has levelled the playing field a bit. I have life in prison, and
you are reading a book that I wrote in my prison cell, sent out, and self-pub-
lished.
Regardless of what your passion is, whether it’s to write articles for a maga-
zine or launch your own magazine when you get out, whether it’s to write books
or movie scripts, all of these things require you to be a great writer. So, become
a great writer if what you want to do has something to do with writing.
Again, both writing and drawing are great crafts to master even if you aren’t
getting out of prison because they can always be done from a prison cell. How-
ever, if you are getting out, your options greatly increase.
