Skip to Main Content

A Breed Apart

The True Story of a $40 Million Credit Card Conspiracy, Betrayal, Prison, and Redemption

About The Book

In this “energetic” (Publishers Weekly) memoir, Victor Woods vividly recounts a trouble-filled and misunderstood coming-of-age in the suburbs of Chicago, the rollercoaster ride that led him to captain a multi-million dollar counterfeit scheme, and his life-changing stint in federal prison.

In 1990, Victor Woods was charged by the US federal government with organizing a credit card scam worth more than forty million dollars. He refused to implicate his family and friends for a reduced sentence. His lawyer at the time remarked that he was “a breed apart.”

In his authentic, matter-of-fact style, Woods shares the details of his evolution from a rebellious teen to a white-collar criminal and what inspired him to turn his life around while locked away as a federal inmate. Woods’s misdeeds and missteps remind us that sometimes we can be our own worst enemy. His remarkable turnaround shows us that no matter our past we can always make good on a second chance.

About The Author

Photograph by Susan James Photography

Victor Woods is the founder and CEO of Success International Incorporated. His message of “never give up” has made him a highly sought-after speaker for corporations, colleges and universities, school districts, prisons, and other organizations across the US, as well as a consultant for law enforcement. He has been featured on CNN, The O'Reilly Factor, ABC News, C-SPAN, and BET. For more information visit VictorWoods.com.

Product Details

Raves and Reviews

“Victor Woods takes us on an emotional journey . . . . A Breed Apart grips you from the very first chapter. “

– Chaka Khan

“Stingingly conveys the grief and madness . . . . A cautionary tale with a happy ending.”

– Kirkus Reviews

“A life-altering reading experience that contains a priceless and timeless message.”

– Claude Brown, author of Manchild in the Promised Land

“Will inspire and captivate you.”

– Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X, and author of author of X: A Novel, Malcolm Little, and Growing Up X

A Breed Apart is a moving, exciting story that’s going to make a great movie.”

– Emmy award-winning actor, Armand Assante

"This book has important social implications . . . . One of the most compelling reads of its genre since Malcolm X."

– David McPherson, former Executive Vice President, Sony Urban Music

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images