LOWER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) — One entrepreneur’s journey from a prison cell to a successful business is now changing lives and providing second chances to former inmates.
Coss Marte left prison in 2013 with just $40 to his name and a dream sparked during his time in a 6×9-foot cell. Today, he’s not only leading a successful business but has created a model for second chances that’s attracting attention from lawmakers across the nation.
In a small gym on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, transformation happens every day. But it’s not just physical change that’s happening here.
“This neighborhood was plagued with drugs in the ’80s and ’90s,” Marte said. “Growing up, we didn’t have much, and I saw that as an opportunity.”
Marte, the founder of CONBODY — a fitness empire rooted in second chances — had a very different life growing up in the city. His early years were marked by a desire for wealth.
“I wanted to be rich, and I did it. By 19, I made over $2 million with a delivery service,” he explained. “But that led to my arrest and conviction as a kingpin.”
After his arrest, Marte was sent to prison. It was in this setting that he received a wake-up call about his health.
“When you enter prison, they strip you, bathe you, and give you medical exams. I was told I could die from a heart attack if I didn’t start eating better,” he recalled.
Serving a seven-year sentence, Marte soon found a way to transform his life behind bars.
“In solitary confinement, I lost 70 pounds in six months. I kept working out, reaching my fitness goals,” Marte shared. The transformation was so striking that other inmates started asking for his help.
“I trained over 20 inmates, helping them lose more than 1,000 pounds combined,” he said.
After his release, Marte found himself back at his mother’s house, struggling to adjust. But he soon began training in a local park, using the same methods he learned in prison. When someone asked to join, he saw an opportunity. CONBODY was born shortly after.
Marte’s story highlights the challenges former inmates face. “One in three Black men, one in six Latino men, and one in 17 white men will be incarcerated,” he said. “It’s not always about violent crime. I could have been arrested for something as simple as a bar fight.”
With CONBODY, Marte has created a unique business that blends fitness with justice. His work goes beyond physical change — it offers new hope and opportunities to those who are re-entering society.
“When someone leaves prison with $40 and a bus ticket, and a meal at McDonald’s costs $20, they’re left with very little to survive,” Marte explained. He knows the struggle, having faced similar challenges himself. “Starting from zero, how do you give someone a real opportunity? I’ve hired 72 employees, most of whom are formerly incarcerated or have family members in the system.”
CONBODY’s impact is felt beyond the gym. Marte trains inmates in correctional facilities, preparing them for a smoother transition once they’re released. His advocacy work has also made an impact, as he’s testified in front of state and national lawmakers to push for policy changes.
For Marte, the fear of returning to his old life no longer lingers. “When I was in solitary confinement, Psalm 91 helped me. It made me believe that if I stayed on the right path, everything would work out,” he said.
Despite the hardships, Marte has built a thriving business in the same community where he once struggled. “From growing up in a crowded tenement to being here, this is a dream come true,” he said, reflecting on his journey.
His business model includes an internship program to help ex-offenders transition into careers as personal trainers. Partners like the Second Chance Foundation work alongside Marte to certify and train individuals for meaningful work, giving them a fresh start.
Marte’s message to others facing similar struggles is simple: “Everything is temporary. Even when you feel like life is over, it’s just a moment. Keep going.”
Through CONBODY, Coss Marte is not only reshaping his own life but also the lives of others, showing that with determination and support, transformation is possible.
