President Barack Obama commutes sentences of 46 drug offenders

[brandon]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/13/politics/obama-commutes-sentences-drug-offenders/


Nice start. Mass pardons coming his last week in office?

 

[Ronin Truth]

Is he establishing a retirement supply network?

 

[wizardwatson]

Is he establishing a retirement supply network?

Well, El Chapo's out, so they need more distributors.

 

[DFF]

This is literally the first good thing Obama has done since being selected.

 

[muh_roads]

Why only 46? There are far more non-violent offenders than that.

 

[brandon]

Why only 46? There are far more non-violent offenders than that.

Well for this go around at least, he's only looking at a small sub set. First - only federal offenders obviously. Second - only those who would already have served their time under the current sentencing guidelines.

Historically presidents do most of their pardons at the end of their term, so we'll see what's ahead.

 

[libertarianMoney]

This is literally the first good thing Obama has done since being selected.

I'm going to assume that was intentional...


"part of his larger attempt to reform the criminal justice system, including reviewing sentencing laws and reducing punishments for non-violent crimes."

Reform through review... sounds legit... Do something THEN review the laws to make sure you didn't do anything stupid.

"Later this week, Obama is expected to discuss his plans for criminal justice reform further. He travels Tuesday to Philadelphia to speak at the annual convention of the NAACP, and on Thursday will become the first president to visit a federal prison when he tours the El Reno facility in Oklahoma."

Drug prisoners, criminal justice reform, NAACP + visit federal prison... Don't worry CNN isn't racist. Some of it's best friends are black...

"Over the last few years a lot of people have become aware of the inequities in the criminal justice system,"

Ohh.... so it's not a prison thing... it's a race thing... very subtle.

Sorry... I don't know if I believe anything I said but it was fun.

 

[The Northbreather]

Rand needs to jump on social media about this obvious hypocracy.

Trying to salvage some credit for his party at the end is disgusting after all the people he's locked up.

 

[rg17]

This is literally the first good thing Obama has done since being selected.

And the most likely the last good thing.

 

[brandon]

This is literally the first good thing Obama has done since being selected.

There's definitely some other very significant things. How about engaging in diplomacy with Iran to both end their sanctions and block their nuclear program? Or ending the Cuba embargo? Allowing states to fully legalize weed without sending in the feds to shut them down.

 

[Vanguard101]

There's definitely some other very significant things. How about engaging in diplomacy with Iran to both end their sanctions and block their nuclear program? Or ending the Cuba embargo? Allowing states to fully legalize weed without sending in the feds to shut them down.

That isn't a good thing.

46 is insignificant. Pardon them all

 

[JK/SEA]

its all good.

i'll take it.

 

[tod evans]

Congratulations to these folks and their families..


These 46 Men and Women Received Commutations Today From President Obama

http://famm.org/these-46-men-and-women-received-commutations-today-from-president-obama/

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Barack Obama granted commutations of sentence to 46 individuals.



Jerry Allen Bailey – Charlotte, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to violate narcotics laws (crack) (Western District of North Carolina)

Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Apr. 2, 1996)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Shauna Barry-Scott – Youngstown, OH
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (Northern District of Ohio)

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Oct. 18, 2005)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Larry Darnell Belcher – Martinsville, VA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute marijuana (Western District of Virginia)

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Dec. 15, 1997)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



John L. Houston Brower – Carthage, NC
Offense: Distributed cocaine base (“crack”) (Middle District of North Carolina)

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 22, 2002)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Nathaniel Brown – Orange Park, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine (more than five kilograms) and cocaine base (more than 50 grams); distribution of cocaine base (two counts) (Middle District of Florida)

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Aug. 1, 2002)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Norman O’Neal Brown – Hyattsville, MD
Offense: Distribute quantity of mixture or substance containing a detectable amount cocaine base (crack), aiding and abetting (five counts); possess with intent distribute quantity of mixture or substance containing detectable amount of cocaine base (crack), aiding and abetting (District of Maryland)

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Jan. 15, 1993)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Joseph Burgos – Chicago, IL
Offense: Distribution of cocaine; use of a communication facility in the commission of a felony (Northern District of Illinois)

Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release; $200,000 fine (Sept. 2, 1993)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Clarance Callies – San Antonio, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute in excess of 50 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”); possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”) (Western District of Texas)

Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 8 years’ supervised release (Mar. 25, 2002)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Anthony Leon Carroll – Tampa, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (Middle District of Florida)

Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; 5 years’ supervised release (Sept. 3, 1999)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Juan Diego Castro – Laredo, TX
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a quantity in excess of five kilograms of cocaine (Southern District of Texas)

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Feb. 1, 2002)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Joe Louis Champion – Houston, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 376.9 grams of cocaine base (crack); aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute 376.9 grams of cocaine base (crack) (Southern District of Texas)

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $4,000 fine (June 19, 1997)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015, and the remaining balance of the fine remitted.



Cedric Culpepper – Orlando, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base (Middle District of Florida)

Sentence: 188 months’ imprisonment; 4 years’ supervised release (Nov. 15, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Walter R. Dennie – Gary, IN
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine (two counts) (Middle District of Florida)

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Apr. 25, 2002)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Steven D. Donovan – Oak Creek, WI
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; interstate travel to promote distribution of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine (Eastern District of Wisconsin)

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Oct. 16, 1992)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Romain Dukes – Chicago, IL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, “crack”; distribution of cocaine base, “crack” (two counts) (Southern District of Iowa)

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Oct. 1, 1997)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Tony Lynn Hollis – Knoxville, TN
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 26.5 grams of cocaine base (Eastern District of Tennessee)

Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (June 8, 2001)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Alex William Jackson – Mineral, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base (Western District of Virginia)

Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; 60 months’ supervised release (Dec. 22, 1999); amended to 240 months’ imprisonment (June 25, 2008)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Jackie Johnson – Townsend, DE
Offense: Possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of a cocaine base (District of Delaware)

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Jan. 30, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Jerome Wayne Johnson – Fort White, FL
Offense: 1. Cultivation of marijuana plants (Middle District of Florida)

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 marijuana plants (Northern District of Florida)
Sentence: 1. 60 months’ imprisonment, 5 years’ supervised release (June 25, 2003)

20 years’ imprisonment, concurrent to sentence imposed above, 10 years’ supervised release (May 27, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Willie C. Johnson – Steele, MO
Offense: The defendant did knowingly conspire to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine base; the defendant did knowingly distribute cocaine base; the defendant did knowingly possess with the intent to distribute cocaine base (Eastern District of Missouri)

Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (Feb. 18, 2005); amended to 168 months’ imprisonment (Feb. 12, 2015)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Mark Anthony Jones – Boynton Beach, FL
Offense: Distribution of cocaine base (Northern District of Florida)

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 28, 1999)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Roy Larry Lee – St. Petersburg, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (enhanced penalty); distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base (two counts) (Middle District of Florida)

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 3, 1990)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Kenneth Lorenzo Lewis – Charlottesville, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base (Western District of Virginia)

Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (Nov. 17, 2000)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Douglas M. Lindsay, II – Newberry, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine and cocaine base (District of South Carolina)

Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (Dec. 20, 1996); amended to 293 months’ imprisonment (Mar. 4, 2015)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Kevin Matthews – James Island, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (District of South Carolina)

Sentence: 232 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Feb. 11, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Marlon McNealy – St. Petersburg, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to commit racketeering (two counts); conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; knowingly and intentionally distributing 50 grams or more of cocaine base (three counts) (Middle District of Florida)

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Aug. 18, 1993)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Brian Nickles – New Orleans, LA
Offense: Distribution of more than 50 grams of cocaine base (two counts) (Eastern District of Louisiana)

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Apr. 28, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Jermaine Lee Osborne – Roanoke, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of cocaine base (Western District of Virginia)

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 2, 2006)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Marcus H. Richards – Miami, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 50 grams of cocaine base (Northern District of Florida)

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 13, 2005)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Patrick Roberts – Detroit, MI
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances (Eastern District of Michigan)

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 8, 1999)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Bryant Keith Shelton – Kissimmee, FL
Offense: Distribution of cocaine base (Middle District of Florida)

Sentence: 188 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (Apr. 1, 2003)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Ezekiel Simpson – St. Louis, MO
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (Eastern District of Missouri)

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Feb. 3, 2005)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Katrina Stuckey Smith – Montrose, GA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (Middle District of Georgia)

Sentence: 292 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 20, 2000); amended to 240 months’ imprisonment (Apr. 2, 2008).

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



James Marion Stockton – Martinsville, VA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of cocaine base; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (Western District of Virginia)

Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (May 27, 2003)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire November 10, 2015.



Bart Stover – Ashland, OH
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine; use of a communication facility to facilitate the commission of drug trafficking offense, aiding and abetting (Northern District of Ohio)

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Apr. 12, 2005)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Robert Earl Thomas, Jr. – Houston, TX
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (Eastern District of Texas)

Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (June 29, 1999)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Bruce Todd – Atlanta, GA
Offense: Distribution of at least 50 grams of crack cocaine (Northern District of Georgia)

Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (Mar. 3, 2003)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Jeffery Jerome Toler – Pensacola, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (Northern District of Florida)

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 13, 1996)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Donald Vanderhorst – Charleston, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of cocaine base (District of South

Carolina)

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Mar. 15, 2006)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



James Nathan Walton – Thibodeaux, LA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (Western District of Louisiana)

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Sept. 16, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Telisha Rachette Watkins – Charlotte, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (Western District of North Carolina)

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (Oct. 25, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Dunning Wells – Fort Myers, FL
Offense: Unlawful possession of a firearm; distribution of a quantity of cocaine; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime (Middle District of Florida)

Sentence: 502 months’ imprisonment; six years’ supervised release (Feb. 20, 1992)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Kimberly A. Westmoreland – Columbus, OH
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute in excess of 50 grams of cocaine base; carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime (Southern District of Ohio)

Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (Jan. 21, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



James Rufus Woods – Leasburg, NC
Offense: Possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”) (Middle District of North Carolina)

Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Nov. 23, 1998)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



John M. Wyatt – Las Cruces, NM
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute marijuana (Southern District of Illinois)

Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release; $500 fine (Aug. 30, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 10, 2015.



Robert Joe Young – Joppa, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine; possession with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine; use of a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing cocaine; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; endeavoring to influence and impede the administration of justice (Northern District of Alabama)

Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 5 years’ supervised release (Dec. 16, 2002)

 

[presence]

Nathaniel Brown – Orange Park, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine (more than five kilograms) and cocaine base (more than 50 grams); distribution of cocaine base (two counts) (Middle District of Florida)

[]

Juan Diego Castro – Laredo, TX
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a quantity in excess of five kilograms of cocaine (Southern District of Texas)

[]

Joe Louis Champion – Houston, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 376.9 grams of cocaine base (crack); aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute 376.9 grams of cocaine base (crack) (Southern District of Texas)

[]


Jerome Wayne Johnson – Fort White, FL
Offense: 1. Cultivation of marijuana plants (Middle District of Florida)

Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 marijuana plants (Northern District of Florida)

[]



Marcus H. Richards – Miami, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 50 grams of cocaine base (Northern District of Florida)

Apparently, if you want a presidential pardon for drug offences you best have at least 5 kilos of cocaine, a pound of crack or 1000 marijuana plants.


Seems legit.

 

[tod evans]

Seems if you want a presidential pardon for drug offenses you best have at least 10 pounds of cocaine, a pound of crack or 1000 marijuana plants.

I picture either the AUSA or federal judge petitioning for pardon.

I'm also 90+% certain the weight/quantity has less to do with it than having the feds pulling for them.....

 

[KEEF]

Cool!

I am just skeptical as to why two things (Cuba and these pardons of non-violent offenders) were not strategic by TPTB in taking the wind out of the sails of two things that Ron Paul and Rand Paul have been talking about forever a couple weeks before election season really begins? Ironic that it took the first black president until his lame duck years to do this while it is one issue that Rand Paul has been using to bring more minorities into the fold.

 

[brandon]

Cool!

I am just skeptical as to why two things (Cuba and these pardons of non-violent offenders) were not strategic by TPTB in taking the wind out of the sails of two things that Ron Paul and Rand Paul have been talking about forever a couple weeks before election season really begins? Ironic that it took the first black president until his lame duck years to do this while it is one issue that Rand Paul has been using to bring more minorities into the fold.

I'm pretty sure ending the cuba embargo was actually unpopular with American hispanics. Didn't Ron Paul once get an intense booing for suggesting ending the embargo while speaking at an hispanic event?

 

[presence]

I picture either the AUSA or federal judge petitioning for pardon.

I'm also 90+% certain the weight/quantity has less to do with it than having the feds pulling for them.....

Just seems fucked there are MILLIONS of Americans in jail for petty possession of a little weed or a few pills for personal use and here comes the president to pardon a handful, many of which were clearly local kingpins.

 

[Root]

Only 46? There are thousands of people who should be pardoned.

Great for the lucky 46, but I still find this lame.

 

[KEEF]

I'm pretty sure ending the cuba embargo was actually unpopular with American hispanics. Didn't Ron Paul once get an intense booing for suggesting ending the embargo while speaking at an hispanic event?

He could have, I don't recall.