Prison consultant working with Capitol-riot defendants says they never expected serious punishments like jail time

• Dan Wise is working with Capitol riot defendants approaching their trial dates.

• Wise, a prison consultant, told Insider his clients have mostly been charged with misdemeanors.

• He said they never expected to face serious punishments like time in jail.

A prison consultant working with Capitol-riot defendants told Insider that most of his clients were not expecting to face serious punishments like jail time.

Dan Wise, a federal prison consultant based in Palm Beach, Florida, said he's spent the last few months helping people who have been charged in connection to the insurrection and are preparing for their upcoming trials.

The charges most of his clients face are mainly misdemeanors, such as parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building, although some also face obstruction charges.

"A lot of them really thought nothing was going to happen," Wise told Insider. "They were like: 'No, this is going to get blown over. I just wanted to have a quick call with you to see what you thought.'"

"It's not going to blow over. This is too public," he said. "I've let them know that."

Wise served 12 months at Coleman Federal Prison in Florida from 2014 to 2015 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute drugs in Georgia.

After his release, Wise set up his own company, Federal Prison Time Consulting, to help people navigate the judicial and prison system. Wise has also recorded videos about prison life on his YouTube channel, RDAP Dan.