Overall, President Obama has commuted more sentences than the past nine Presidents combined, and still has more than five months left in office. (Chart: WhiteHouse.gov)
President Obama on Wednesday commuted the sentences of 214 federal inmates serving hard time– but it turns out that many went to jail partially because of the illegal guns they carried.
“Today began like any other for 214 federal inmates across the country, but ultimately became a day I am confident they will never forget. This morning, these individuals received a message from the President: your application for clemency has been granted,” said a prepared statement from the White House.
Of the 214, no less than 67 were serving life sentences. According to White House Counsel Neil Eggleston the figure Wednesday represent the most grants given in a single day since at least 1900.
“All of the individuals receiving commutation today, incarcerated under outdated and unduly harsh sentencing laws, embody the President’s belief that ‘America is a nation of second chances,'” continues the statement.
Since taking office, the President has commuted the sentences of 562 men and women, more than the past nine Presidents combined.
Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates promised more commutations will be coming in future weeks.
“Today’s historic announcement is yet another step in the administration’s efforts to restore proportionality to unnecessarily long drug sentences,” said Yates in a statement. “In just the first eight months of 2016, the President has more than doubled the number of commutations granted in all of 2015. But we are not done yet, and we expect that many more men and women will be given a second chance through the Clemency Initiative.”
When analyzing the latest list of commutations from the Department of Justice released this week, Guns.com found no less than 56 were serving hard time for crimes that included gun charges, fully one in four.
Of these, 18 were originally sentenced to life imprisonment.
The break down of those with gun crimes, their offense, sentence and commutation follows:
Asher Adkins – Columbia City, IN
Offense: Distribution of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting (two counts); distribution of methamphetamine (three counts); use or carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime (two counts); distribution of more than 100 grams of methamphetamine (two counts); Northern District of Indiana
Sentence: 624 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (January 3, 2000)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Joe Alvarado – Ogden, UT
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (two counts); possession of a firearm and ammunition by convicted a felon; District of Utah
Sentence: Life imprisonment (October 13, 2004)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Reinaldo A. Arocho – Lake Station, IN
Offense: Drug conspiracy; maintaining a drug house; distribution of crack cocaine; carrying a firearm during drug trafficking; attempting to corruptly persuade a witness; Northern District of Indiana
Sentence: 387 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 19, 2000); amended to 300 months’ imprisonment (January 18, 2011)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Marston Edward Blue – District Heights, MD
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute heroin and cocaine; felon in possession of firearm; possess with intent to distribute heroin, aiding and abetting; District of Maryland
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 25, 2002 (on remand))Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Joshua Boyer – Tampa, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; possession of a firearm not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 288 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (November 27, 2001)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Patrick A. Brown – Alexandria, VA
Offense: Felon in possession of a firearm, aiding and abetting (two counts); possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, aiding and abetting; District of Maryland
Sentence: Life imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (August 8, 1997)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Willie Chester – Waco, TX
Offense: Possession of a firearm by felon; false statement in acquisition of firearm; Western District of Texas
Sentence: 264 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $3,000 fine (March 26, 1992)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Donyelle Childs – Clearwater, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (January 12, 2006)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment.
Mark Anthony Clark – Rockford, IL
Offense: Conspiracy; possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting; possession with intent to distribute amphetamine; possession of a firearm by a felon/fugitive from justice and aiding and abetting; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: Life imprisonment; six years’ supervised release (September 1, 1995)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment.
Jimmie Clyde Collins – Joshua, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute; possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and aiding and abetting; using a drug involved premises and aiding and abetting; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: 370 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 11, 2005)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Eugene Ross Cousins – Greenville, VA
Offense: Distribution of methamphetamine (two counts); possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (two counts); drug user in possession of firearm (two counts); Western District of Virginia
Sentence: 406 months’ imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (August 8, 2007); amended to 397 months’ imprisonment (April 4, 2015)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Lenwood Davies – Wabasso, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (November 15, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Richard Lawrence Davis – St. Louis, MO
Offense: 1. Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri
2. Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 1. 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 15, 2004)
2. 93 months’ imprisonment (concurrent) (March 4, 2005); amended to 75 months’ imprisonment (November 18, 2011)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Maynard Dennis – Liverpool, NY
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Northern District of New York
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (September 7, 2005)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Thomas Duncan – Columbia, TN
Offense: Possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; felon in possession of a firearm; possession of five grams or more of cocaine base with intent to distribute; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 352 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (September 23, 2002)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Kenneth Evans – Fort Worth, TX
Offense: Conspiracy; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base and aiding and abetting; use and carry firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: Life imprisonment plus 60 months; five years’ supervised release (August 20, 1993)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment.
James Oliver Fambro – Decatur, GA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release, $500 fine (April 5, 2006)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
J. B. Farris, Jr. – Atlanta, GA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Georgia
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 26, 1993)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Cleveland R. Franklin, Jr. – Indianapolis, IN
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing cocaine base; carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Southern District of Indiana
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $1,000 fine (November 17, 2006)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Toddrick Onterio Franklin – St. Petersburg, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm in and affecting interstate commerce; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 120 months’ supervised release (March 21, 2003)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Thomas R. Fuller – Kansas City, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine; aiding and abetting to distribute crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm; Western District of Missouri
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (August 7, 2003)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Derrick Glass – Youngstown, OH
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Ohio
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 14, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Edgar Gonzalez-Valentin – Mayagüez, PR
Offense: Conspiracy to import cocaine, aiding and abetting; importation of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession of firearm in relation to drug trafficking crime (two counts); District of Puerto Rico
Sentence: 595 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (July 10, 1992); amended to 511 months’ imprisonment (August 19, 2015)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Benjamin Harris – Dallas, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute MDMA, cocaine and 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Middle District of Louisiana
Sentence: 226 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 23, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months’ imprisonment.
Wilson Henderson – Hollywood, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (incorrectly listed on the judgment as cocaine); use of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Southern District of Georgia
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (August 20, 1992)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
John A. Hill – Cleveland, OH
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Ohio
Sentence: Life imprisonment (July 16, 1996)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017.
Deangelo Hunt – Richmond, VA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 1, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Anthonial Irick – Cameron, SC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine; possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Middle District of Georgia
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 18, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Dickey Joe Jackson – Boyd, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (two counts); felon in possession of a firearm; possession of an unregistered firearm (two counts); Northern District of Texas
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 17, 1996)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Kenneth Lee Kelley – Westville, OK
Offense: Felon in possession of firearm after former conviction (two counts); possession of stolen firearm; attempt to manufacture methamphetamine (three counts); possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine; possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of methamphetamine; possesssion of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Oklahoma
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (April 27, 2004)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Vince Cordell King – Detroit, MI
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts); using or carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm; Eastern District of Michigan
Sentence: Life plus five years’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (May 21, 1996)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Kent Edward Kiser – Manassas, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 270 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (March 10, 2006)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment.
Edwin M. Mack – Fort Myers, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base, “crack cocaine”; distribution of a quantity of cocaine base, “crack cocaine” (two counts); possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base, “crack cocaine”; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of an unregistered firearm (incorrectly listed on the judgment as possession of a firearm by a convicted felon); Middle District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 1, 2005)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Artis Sangria McGraw – Saluda, SC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; use of fiream during and in relation to a crime of violence; felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm with obliterated serial numbers; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 270 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (September 30, 2002)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Rudolph McKinnon, Jr. – Fort Walton Beach, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $1,000 fine (October 26, 2005)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
John Anthony Mickens – Louisa, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense; Western District of Virginia
Sentence: 211 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (June 25, 2007); amended to 181 months’ imprisonment (October 21, 2008); amended to 180 months’ imprisonment (October 14, 2011)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Robert Earl Nettles – Fort Pierce, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (January 22, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Linton C. Nichols – Cleveland, OH
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack); possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Nothern District of Ohio
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 15, 1999)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Candido Ortiz-Martinez – Pagedale, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possession of firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking crime (two counts); distribution of cocaine; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 592 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (December 12, 1991); amended to 535 months’ imprisonment (March 30, 2015)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Lonnie Dwayne Payne – St. Louis, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; interstate transportation of a firearm by a felon; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 324 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (September 25, 2003); amended to 240 months’ imprisonment (April 21, 2005)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Erenio C. Perez – Colorado Springs, CO
Offense: Conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting the manufacture in excess of one kilogram of methamphetamine; possession and aiding and abetting the possession of ephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine (two counts); possession and aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (two counts); District of Colorado
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (April 19, 1996)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Jack Dewhan Randolph – Charlotte, NC
Offense: Possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting the same (two counts); Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (November 29, 2000)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Evans Ray, Jr. – Fort Washington, MD
Offense: Distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine, aiding and abetting; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, aiding and abetting; District of Maryland
Sentence: 324 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 7, 2007); amended to life imprisonment (May 15, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Richard D. Reid – Wilmington, DE
Offense: Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (five counts); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of a cocaine base (crack); possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession of crack cocaine; possession of marijuana; District of Delaware
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (September 4, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Richard L. Reser – Sedgwick, KS
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of firearm while trafficking in drugs (two counts); possession of a firearm by a felon; distribution of methamphetamine; conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; District of Kansas
Sentence: 480 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (December 20, 1989)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Jerome Rowser – Birmingham, AL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of firearms; Northern District of Alabama
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (August 19, 2004)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Michael Sandmeyer – Rockford, IA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine (mixture) after having previously been convicted of a felony drug offense; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 22, 2003)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Andrew Simmons, III – Lake Charles, LA
Offense: Possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (September 14, 2006)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Martin Ruiz Singh – Marshalltown, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; distribution of methamphetamine (three counts); felon in possession of a firearm ; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 12, 2006)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment.
Kenneth H. Smith – Nashville, TN
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack cocaine); convicted felon in possession of firearms; false written statement to licensed firearm dealer; Middle District of Tennessee
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 29, 2001)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Kenneth Junior Smith – Brooklyn, NY
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base, aid and abet (three counts); felon in possession of a firearm; District of South Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 14, 1999)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Christopher Stanton – Pensacola, FL
Offense: Possession of firearm by a convicted felon; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (July 25, 2006)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Derrick Anthony Timmons – Herndon, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (September 1, 2005)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Clarence Ward – Hollywood, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (four counts); felon in possession of a firearm; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (December 20, 2004)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months’ imprisonment.
Jamel Washington – Austin, TX
Offense: Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute; felon in possession of a firearm; Western District of Texas
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (December 1, 2005)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.
Ervin Darnell Worthy – Akron, OH
Offense: 1. Felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm with an altered serial number; Northern District of Ohio
2. Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; Northern District of Ohio
Sentence: 1. Life imprisonment (February 7, 1996)
2. Life imprisonment (February 7, 1996)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2017.
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