BELEN ENRIQUEZ, MBA
MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Belen Enriquez is an American entrepreneur, writer, and criminal justice advocate. She was born in Quito, Ecuador and immigrated to the United States in 2004.
Belen earned her bachelor's degree in Organizational Management from Palm Beach Atlantic University and an MBA in Finance from Nova Southeastern University. As an intern at the Palm Beach State's Attorney's Office (White Collar Crime Division) she discovered her passion for criminal law and white-collar crime. In 2018, while preparing for law school, Belen was arrested by federal authorities on money laundering and other non-violent charges for running the largest network of high-end escort agencies in the United States. She pled guilty and was ultimately sentenced to 15 months of incarceration followed by five years of supervised release and 500 hours of community service. Belen became a "jailhouse lawyer and prison consultant" at her institution, assisting incarcerated individuals with legal work, immigration, and prison-related matters. She successfully helped release two women through the Bureau of Prisons and a Compassionate Release Request to the sentencing court. The law library became her "office" as she spent countless hours researching and typing - on an old school typewriter. Since her release from prison in January 2020, she has volunteered her time to assist with the early release of several individuals incarcerated in the federal prison system.
Belen is the Office Director at the Law Offices of Paul Petruzzi, a federal criminal defense firm in Miami. She specializes in cases involving violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and international narcotics. She continues to write compelling pleadings and engaging content for various publications.
Belen hopes to become an attorney and continue her fight for justice and equality.
She is currently enrolled In the Executive Program in Social Impact Strategy at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a Prison-to-Professionals graduate (Cohort 27) and has training in motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy with a focus on reentry, and is a certified facilitator on Seeking Safety, an evidence-based, present-focused counseling model to help people attain safety from trauma or substance abuse.
Belen enjoys photography, reading, art, and traveling in her spare time. She resides in Miami, Florida.
Belen supports several charitable causes, including immigration reform, reentry, and justice-impacted individuals.
