Who is Ray McDeere from The Firm and what is their importance?

Ray McDeere is Mitch's remaining brother (their other brother, Rusty, had died serving in the military). Ray and Mitch share a close, although long-distance, relationship. Ray is incarcerated at Brushy Mountain Prison. He had been found guilty of second-degree murder in a bar fight that turned deadly. Ray had been in the military but received a dishonorable discharge following the brawl.