President Obama Makes History By Granting The Most Commutations In a Single Day

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Making history as the president to grant the most commutations in a single day since former President Lyndon B. Johnson, President Obama granted clemency on Monday to 46 nonviolent drug offenders, saying they deserve second chances. The vast majority of Obama’s commutations have been granted to nonviolent drug offenders who were sentenced more harshly than they would be under current law.

In a video released on Facebook, President Obama said that both responsibility and opportunity come with a commutation. The White House explained on Facebook, “Nearly all of these individuals would have already served their time and returned to society if they were convicted of the exact same crime today.”

“These men and women were not violent criminals, but the overwhelming majority had been sentenced to at least 20 years,” President Obama said in the video. “Fourteen of them had been sentenced to life for nonviolent drug offenses, so their punishments didn’t fit the crime. I believe that America, at its heart, is a nation of second chances and I believe these folks deserve their second chance.”

The President urged Congress to pass laws that will address the inequities in federal sentencing. All of the men and women granted clemency were sentenced for drug crimes.

President Obama has been criticized in the past for not granting clemency as often as his predecessors. Some call his cautious, conservative approach to pardons “safe” and others have labeled him the Scrooge of pardons. (Note: A commutation reduces the sentence, while a pardon eliminates the conviction.) If he were a Republican, this would be called being a law-and-order type president.

President Obama obviously disagreed with the drug sentencing of the past, and took action today to address it.

The President wrote letters to each person receiving commutation, urging them to make the most of the opportunity, reminding them they have the capacity to make good choices.

Here’s the list from the White House Press Secretary of the individuals who received clemency from President Obama:

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)

2. 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)

2. 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)

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