Written by Nia Bowers
For Justin Spearman, a seasoned petroleum landman and entrepreneur, the opportunities for success came early and fast. But like many driven by ambition before maturity, the foundation couldn’t support the weight of pride over character. His journey from public disgrace to principled leadership isn’t just a redemption story—it’s a testimony to what can happen when a man stops hiding behind his talent and starts building with integrity.
The Illusion of Arrival
At just 22, Spearman began his oil and gas career with Apache Corporation before stepping out on his own as an independent landman in Midland, Texas. By 24, he was entrusted with opportunities he now humbly describes as “undeserved”—doors opened by potential and relationships, not yet anchored in maturity or proven character.At 25, Justin departed Midland and returned to Winter Park, Florida—burdened by spiritual emptiness, unchecked ambition, and a fractured sense of identity. He was chasing validation rather than vision, driven more by image than inner alignment. Eventually, the pressure exposed the fault lines. In 2015, Spearman was indicted and later convicted of federal wire fraud in Texas, followed by additional state charges in Florida. It wasn’t merely a professional downfall—it was a total unraveling of the man beneath the momentum.
From Federal Custody to Faithful Clarity
The lowest point wasn’t the courtroom—it was the quiet reckoning that followed. Incarceration stripped Spearman of every illusion, leaving behind only what he could no longer avoid: himself. But it also planted the seeds of transformation.With the support of his father and a few industry friends who believed in the man he could become—not the one he had been—Justin began to rebuild from the inside out. In the Florida jail system, he volunteered as a GED tutor, teaching math to men society had written off. It wasn’t just about equations; it was about unlocking the “why” behind both numbers and decisions.
“Understanding the formula doesn’t matter if you miss the purpose behind it,” Spearman says. “The same is true for life.”
Through his involvement with Inside Out Jail Ministries, Justin developed a relationship with God no longer rooted in rigid rule-following, but in obedience, service, and surrender. His faith, once formulaic, became foundational.
From Reputation Lost to Legacy in Motion
Upon release, Spearman didn't just reenter the industry—he reentered it with a renewed heart, a disciplined mindset, and a higher calling. Over the past four years, he has rebuilt credibility the hard way: one deal, one relationship, and one right decision at a time.He now serves on the Fort Worth YoungLife Committee and advises several faith-based organizations. His story isn’t framed around what he lost—it’s centered on who he became when everything was stripped away.
“I’ve learned that desire without discipline leads to disappointment,” he says. “You don’t get to borrow credibility. You build it—with action, consistency, and clarity that endures even when emotion fades.”
A Blueprint for Those Rebuilding
Spearman’s path forward isn’t about comfort—it’s about calling. His guiding belief? The discomfort of growth is always less dangerous than the illusion of safety.In an industry where trust is currency and deals move at the speed of ambition, Justin Spearman has become a rare voice for something deeper: character over charm, obedience over optics, and legacy over leverage.
His message to others who find themselves in a collapsed season is simple: “You’re not disqualified. But you are responsible. Make the next right decision, then do it again tomorrow.”
