CeCe Espeut had a great childhood; she grew up in a close-knit family with 3 younger brothers and was loved and well taken care of by her parents. She went to one of the best schools in London, England and lead a charmed life. Espeut went to college in the US where she studied photography. She had a promising military career in the United States Marine Corps as a jet engine mechanic.
Then at the age of 30, she made a series of really bad decisions and ended up doing 2 years in Federal Prison for drug related offenses. Almost a year of that time was spent in solitary confinement. Upon her release she vowed never to go back to prison and started on a life long journey to live a more productive life. In 2012 Florida Governor Rick Scott granted her clemency. She is now applying for a Presidential Pardon. Espeut also sits on the board for Sheriff's Office Re-Entry Commission as an advocate for civil rights restoration for ex-offenders.
Espeut now visits jails and drug rehab centers to talk to the inmates about the different options available to them if they want to change their lives when they are released. She explains the difference between sealing and expunging a criminal record or getting it pardoned and the effects that it can have on someone's life and the lives of their family members. She stresses that we should all strive to make generational empowerment decisions that break the cycle of recidivism and drug addiction because these are the things that make a difference to our children and grandchildren. This should be the legacy we leave behind.