Mediaite managing editor Jon Nicosia on Saturday penned a column in which he revealed that he is a convicted felon and described how he recovered after his time in prison and became a video editor.
“I have certainly tried to keep much of my past behind me, but for years people have been asking questions — and rightfully so. I would like a long future in this business, so it’s time for me to come clean so I can be judged accordingly,” Nicosia wrote.
Nicosia, whose given name is Zachary Hilden, was convicted of bank fraud and larceny after an attempt to save his failing business.
“I could not accept that the company I worked so hard to create was failing, so I rationalized doing things that were both unethical and illegal. Until that point, I had never gotten so much as a speeding ticket,” he wrote.
He was convicted of financial crimes a second time before finally getting back up on his feet.
“Despite five years behind bars, I hadn’t learned my lesson. In 2002, I plead guilty to larceny and securities fraud stemming from more illegal activities in 1998 and ’99,” Nicosia wrote. “Those crimes were 15 years ago, and I’ve since tried to build my life back and deal with the causes of my terrible behavior.”
Nicosia changed his name so that he could gain a reputation as a video editor, but had to reveal his identity when he applied to work for Mediaite.
“[W]hen I applied to become a Mediaite employee, I had to provide my given name and social security number. I knew that they would eventually realize who I was — which they did. Would this be the end of my media career? Would I become an outcast who no one would work with?” he wrote. “After some deliberation, they judged me based on my work to that point, rather than my past.”
