I Was a Yonkers Gang Member — Then I Survived New York’s Maximum-Security Prisons | Jonathan Alvarez

Locked In with Ian Bick

Ian Bick

Society & Culture

4.8 • 743 Ratings

🗓️ 24 November 2025

⏱️ 86 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Jonathan Alvarez grew up in Yonkers, New York, where his life was shaped by loss and survival from an early age. At just 10 years old, his father was sent to federal prison and deported for drug trafficking — leaving Jonathan to fend for himself. By 12, he was selling drugs on the streets, and by 17, he was indicted on a gang-related murder charge that led to nearly 13 years behind bars. But prison didn’t break him — it transformed him. #LockedInWithIanBick #PrisonStories #TrueCrime #GangLife #NewYorkPrisons #SurvivingPrison #RedemptionStory #realstories Thank you to RULA, CASH APP & PELIPOST for sponsoring this episode: Rula: Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/LOCKEDIN #rulapod Cash App: Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/6pao71et #CashAppPod Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. Pelipost: Go to pelipost.com and use code LOCKEDIN at checkout. Connect with Jonathan Alvarez: https://linktr.ee/JO_Envisioned Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop Timestamps: 00:00 – A Violent Night That Changed Everything 00:55 – Introducing Jonathan Alvarez & His Redemption Story 01:16 – Jonathan’s Mission Today & the Creation of 914 United 01:54 – Growing Up: Neighborhood, Family Struggles & Early Loss 03:50 – Living Without a Father & the Impact on Identity 05:57 – Early Exposure to Street Life & Negative Influences 07:35 – School Troubles, Suspensions & Getting Expelled 09:00 – Teen Hustling, Survival & Early Criminal Behavior 10:35 – Getting Kicked Out & Slipping Deeper Into the Streets 12:01 – Friendships, Brotherhood & Gang Affiliation 13:32 – First Crimes, Police Encounters & Warning Signs 15:40 – Street Violence, Chaos & Police Brutality Experiences 17:47 – The Life-Changing Incident That Set Everything in Motion 20:35 – The Night of the Homicide: What Really Happened 25:03 – The Aftermath: Panic, Fear & the Arrest 28:25 – Facing the Evidence, Court Reality & Hard Truths 31:20 – Understanding the Consequences & Legal Pressure 33:49 – Jail at 17: Violence, Fear & Jailhouse Justice 37:14 – Taking a Plea Deal & Sentencing as a Teen 40:47 – Looking Back: Lost Relationships & Lost Time 42:16 – Regret, Reflection & Navigating Prison Culture 44:28 – Betrayal, Fights & Surviving Jail Conflicts 48:23 – Entering State Prison: Shock, Violence & Adaptation 52:33 – Comstock Prison: Extreme Violence, Reality & Survival 57:01 – Trust, Loyalty & Prison Camaraderie 01:01:10 – Family Connections + Unexpected Prison Encounters 01:05:09 – Marriage, Divorce & Maintaining Relationships in Prison 01:10:52 – College in Prison: Growth, Focus & New Purpose 01:14:21 – Coming Home: Reentry Challenges & Rebuilding Life 01:18:46 – Making Peace with the Past & Finding Purpose 01:19:51 – From Prison to Community Leader: Youth Impact Work 01:23:41 – Uniting Different Backgrounds to Create Change 01:25:03 – Final Reflections & Advice for the Next Generation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I charge him and immediately he's like trying to back me off and he swings on me and he hits my left arm because I try to grab it. And without me knowing, I was like, y'all'm gonna kill you. What do you think attracted you to hustling the most? Like what did you enjoy the most about it? He took us to a dark alleyway bro under retrieve, cuffed up and started banging on our heads, ribs, face, the whole nine. Did you meant to take his life that night? I cried.
0:22.0	I remember all I kept thinking of is 25 of life. started banging on our heads, ribs, face, the whole nine. Did you meant to take his life that night?
0:24.7	I cried. I remember all I kept thinking of is 25 of life.
0:29.9	Jonathan Alvarez was just 17 when he was indicted on a gang-related murder charge and sentenced to 15 years in prison. But instead of letting prison destroy him, he used it to rebuild his
0:35.3	life, earning three degrees behind bars, founding a non-profit
0:39.1	for at-risk youth, and turning his story from prison to purpose. This is one of the most
0:44.3	powerful redemption stories you'll ever hear. Before we dive into this episode, remember
0:48.7	new Lockton merch is available now. Use code Lockton 20 to get 20% off. I hope you enjoy this episode.
0:58.4	Jonathan, welcome to Lockton. Thanks so much for coming on the show today.
1:01.2	Thanks for having me, man. Another Mary connection. She's been getting us so many good guests.
1:05.3	I feel like I keep talking about her on the show, but she's plugging us in with some really
1:08.9	great stories, so we appreciate her. Shout out Mary, man. Tell the audience everything you got going on now. It's great work you're doing.
1:15.2	I want them to hear about it. Yeah, so I'm founded and executive director of 9114 United.
1:20.6	It's a nonprofit located in Westchester, doing a lot of work around youth incarceration and violence
1:25.5	prevention. We partner a lot with the corrections in Westchester County so we can help people come home
1:30.8	from corrections to community, get them on the right pathway, help them with jobs, get them
1:35.7	situated.
1:36.9	And then on the prevention side, we work with the schools, the young kids who are gang involved,
1:40.8	gang affected, and influenced, and again, trying to deter them away from that kind of cycle of crime into like a better
1:46.3	pathway, help them finish school.
1:48.9	Yeah, we've been building for five and a half years.
1:50.7	I founded it in 2020 with my partner.
	...

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