About Thad Bereday

Raised in New York City, Thad Bereday graduated from Brown University with a BA in Law and Public Policy before earning his JD from Case Western Reserve University’s School of Law. After rising through the ranks with various high profile law firms and eventually a partner role, in 2002 he began working as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of WellCare Health Plans in Tampa. This move would prove pivotal to both his career and his life. Five years later, Thad’s high-flying legal career crashed to earth.

On October 24, 2007, WellCare was raided by the FBI. Hundreds of government agents stormed WellCare’s corporate headquarters, millions of paper documents and computer files were seized, and scores of terrified employees were subjected to interrogation. The federal criminal investigation of WellCare’s business practices had begun.

Over the next decade, Thad lost his job, his law license, his health, his freedom, and his family. Along with four others on WellCare’s senior leadership team, Thad was eventually indicted, pled not guilty and was scheduled for a lengthy high-publicity trial; but this was delayed in Thad’s case by the onset of leukemia. After a seeming remission, the cancer relapsed, leading to another hold on Thad’s trial until a crucial bone marrow transplant saved his life. Finally, almost ten years after the FBI raid, Thad decided to plead guilty to a single count of making a false statement to the Florida Medicaid program and was sentenced to six months in federal prison. Following his release to home confinement, the stresses brought on by both the health and legal struggles led to the end of his thirty-year marriage.

Thad lost his job, his law license, his health, his freedom, and his family…. But while the previous eleven years had destroyed his life, it also opened the door to new insights and opportunities. Thad is building his life around the idea of redemption. Not only of himself, but of others…

But while the previous eleven years had destroyed Thad’s life, it also opened the door to new insights and opportunities. Thad is building his life around the idea of redemption. Not only of himself, but of others as well. Deepening his faith during his prison time, soon after release Thad joined a local church and committed himself to social justice, turning the legal knowledge he gained into a tool for helping others seek redemption for their past actions.

Thad became a supporter of organizations such as the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, Love INC of Metro Tampa, the Fines & Fees Justice Center, and other groups dedicated to social justice reform. He began working as a group leader for the Justice Ministry within his church and as a justice committee member of HOPE, the Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality.  Along with his ministry work, Thad is member of the community council for the Hillsborough County State Attorney and serves on the board of Fair Trials, the global criminal justice watchdog.  He plans to apply to regain his law license and is a certified yoga instructor.  Based on his works, in December 2020 a federal judge granted early termination of Thad’s supervised release.

Amidst all these new projects and efforts, another surprise blessing occurred. Thad received an unexpected full and unconditional presidential pardon in January 2021. This act of mercy has encouraged Thad in his pursuit of justice and mercy for others. Today, Thad is a public speaker and a passionate advocate for the value of redemption. As host of the Redemption Radio podcast, Thad shares his experience, strength and hope to inspire others and lead a dialogue about rethinking crime and punishment in America.  Thad anticipates that one day the justice system can shift its punitive balance in favor of dispensing more mercy.