President Obama, seen here on a visit to El Reno Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno, Okla., granted clemency to over 200 this week. (Photo: Pete Souza/White House)
President Obama on Tuesday granted clemency to 231 people with about one in six doing some sort of time on federal weapons charges.
Those affected included 153 who received commutations, bringing Obama’s administration to a record 1,176 individuals with commutations, including 395 with life sentences. The President also granted pardons to 78, bringing his total number of pardons to 148. The figures, according to the White House, are higher than the last 11 chief executives combined.
Of those with commutations this week, 39– including 10 with life sentences– were jailed for a list of charges that included firearms violations.
One, Chalmers Lavette Hendricks, sentenced in 1995 to life plus 300 months’ imprisonment on a host of cocaine and firearms charges, had his sentence upheld by an appeals court in 2009. He will have his sentence commuted to 360 months.
Another inmate, Maurice Davon Cawthon of Milton, Florida, is doing 20 years for a host of drug charges as well as being a felon in possession of a short-barreled shotgun not registered under the National Firearms Act.
Of the 53 pardons issued, four were for individuals doing time for weapons charges including three who were only in the system for illegal guns including a man sentenced to 40 months for being a felon in possession of a firearm; a man who got 30 months for a stolen gun; and a Pennsylvania woman who got three years’ probation for falsification of firearms purchase forms and passing on a gun to a felon.
The rates of those incarcerated on sentences that included gun charges receiving clemency from the President in recent months has remained steady.
In August, the President commuted sentences for 214 inmates including 56 with gun felonies.
When called out on the fact that nearly 1 in 4 of the batch of 214 inmates had carried illegal guns, Obama outlined that it all came down to whether they were using the firearms or not and elaborated that his emphasis was on people who were overcharged and did not have a propensity for violence.
The trend continued with subsequent commutations of another 98 in late October– including 19 with gun charges– and 79 in November including 14 in for weapons violations.
With the Office of the Pardon Attorney still swamped with nearly 15,000 petitions, White House Counsel Neil Eggleston is anticipating more will be granted in coming days.
“The President continues to review clemency applications on an individualized basis to determine whether a particular applicant has demonstrated a readiness to make use of his or her second chance, and I expect that the President will issue more grants of both commutations and pardons before he leaves office,” said Eggleston in a statement.
The President granted commutations of sentence to the following individuals with firearms charges:
Lee Henry Berry – Bay City, MI
Offense: Possess with intent to distribute less than five grams of cocaine base; possess with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; possess with intent to distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine; felon in possession of one or more firearms; Eastern District of Michigan
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; six years’ supervised release (December 20, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months’ imprisonment.
Peter Christian Boulette – Hattiesburg, MS
Offense: 1. Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more ofmethamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine (two counts); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (two counts); felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Alabama
2. Possession of a firearm by a convicted person; possession of an unregistered firearm; Eastern District of Arkansas
Sentence: 1. 600 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 13,
2007)
2. 87 months’ imprisonment (concurrent); three years’ supervised release (March 3, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 300 months’ imprisonment.
Gregory R. Boyd – Oakley, CA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense; felon in possession of a firearm; District of Montana
Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (July 18, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 19, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Jermaine Brown – Hampton, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (two counts); distribution of cocaine base; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 548 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (July 8, 2011); amended to 511 months’ imprisonment (June 13, 2016)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 211 months’ imprisonment.
Maurice Davon Cawthon – Milton, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; possession of a shotgun in relation to a drug trafficking offense; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of an unregistered firearm with an overall length of less than 26 inches, including a barrel of less than 18 inches; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release; $600 fine (December 17, 2004)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 19, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Calvin Lavan Clark – Garner, NC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack) and a quantity of cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: 354 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (September 17, 2008)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 19, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Jeremy Conner – Tarrant, AL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Alabama
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (December 10, 2008); amended to 240 months’ imprisonment (October 26, 2011)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Theartis Daniels – Punta Gorda, 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 crime; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 1, 2006)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on April 18, 2017.
Larry Lamont Davie – Oak Grove, KY
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing cocaine base; aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing cocaine base; possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Western District of Kentucky
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (January 8, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on April 18, 2017.
Terrance Terell Dendy – Seneca, SC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm in connection with a felony; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 25, 2010)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 19, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
George Ralph Ellis – Birmingham, AL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing marijuana; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; possession with intent to distribute fifty (50) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; Northern District of Alabama
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (July 18, 2005)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on April 18, 2017.
Korell Ellis – Fairmont, NC
Offense: Possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base; use or carry a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: 295 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $14,330 fine (March 12, 2002); amended to 248 months’ imprisonment (October 7, 2015)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on April 18, 2017 and unpaid balance of the $14,330 fine remitted.
Cecil Ray Frye, Jr. – Saraland, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking felony (two counts); Southern District of Alabama
Sentence: 548 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $9,546 restitution (December 4, 2003); amended to 300 months’ imprisonment (September 11, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 211 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Anthony DeWayne Gillis – Supply, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; false statements (three counts); possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (six counts); possession of a sawed-off shotgun; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 1,748 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (October 14, 2005); amended to 1,711 months’ imprisonment (November 2, 2010); amended to 1,681 months’ imprisonment (December 28, 2015)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment.
Jeffrey Gray – Alexandria, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine; attempt to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine; possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; money laundering; felon in possession of a firearm; District of Delaware
Sentence: 480 months’ imprisonment; lifetime supervised release (December 22, 2008); amended to 384 months’ imprisonment (December 22, 2015)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment.
Chalmers Lavette Hendricks – Charlotte, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to violate narcotic laws (cocaine); possession/distribution cocaine (crack); possession of a firearm by convicted felon during drug trafficking crime; possession of firearm/ammunition by convicted felon (two counts); Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: Life plus 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (October 26, 1995); amended to life plus 60 months’ imprisonment (March 6, 1998)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment.
Larry Darvell Henricks – Billings, MT
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine (two counts); possession with intent to distribute marijuana; possession with intent to distribute (four counts); using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense (two counts); District of Montana
Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (October 13, 1995)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 19, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Larry Dwayne Hill – Granite Shoals, TX
Offense: Aiding and abetting to conspire to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine; aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine; felon in possession of a firearm (two counts); Western District of Texas
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 2, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 19, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
James David Hinkle – New Market, VA
Offense: Distribution of methamphetamine (two counts); use or possess a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime (two counts); Western District of Virginia
Sentence: 375 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (September 13, 2004)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on April 18, 2017.
Harold Dean Jones – Flint, MI
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; felon in possession of a firearm (two counts); distribution of heroin; possession with intent to distribute heroin; Eastern District of Michigan
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 10, 1995)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on April 18, 2017.
Donald Steven Looney – Wichita Falls, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and aiding and abetting; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting (two counts); Northern District of Texas
Sentence: 548 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 19, 2006); amended to 511 months’ imprisonment (June 2, 2016)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 211 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Mary Beth Looney – Wichita Falls, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and aiding and abetting; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting (two counts); Northern District of Texas
Sentence: 548 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 19, 2006); amended to 511 months’ imprisonment (June 2, 2016)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 211 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Daniel L. Morgan – Opa Locka, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; attempt to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; conspiracy to use and carry firearms in relation to a drug trafficking crime; using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 7, 2002)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment.
Lawrence Maurice Powe – Mobile, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute schedule II (cocaine) controlled substance; Possess with intent to distribute schedule II (cocaine) controlled substance; use of firearm in a drug trafficking felony (two counts); Southern District of Alabama
Sentence: 480 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release: $100,000 fine; $900,000 forfeiture obligation (July 28, 1992)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 19, 2018 and unpaid balance of $900,000 forfeiture obligation remitted, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Chad Christopher Pyne – Panama City Beach, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 200 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (August 19, 2004); amended to 262 months’ imprisonment (January 5, 2006)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 19, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Timothy Orlando Rainey – Nashville, TN
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana (two counts); Southern District of Alabama
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (June 21, 1995)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 235 months’ imprisonment.
Fabian Roberson – Cincinnati, OH
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of cocaine base; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Southern District of Ohio
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $1,000 fine (April 3, 2008)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 19, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Sean Anthony Robinson – Richmond, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (three counts); Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (December 21, 2006); amended to 360 months’ imprisonment (November 23, 2015)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Todd Alan Scofield – Flandreau, SD
Offense: Conspiracy to possess a controlled substance; possession of a firearm by a prohibited person; distribution of a controlled substance (two counts); District of South Dakota
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (December 6, 2004)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on April 18, 2017.
Terence Devon Scott – Lynchburg, VA
Offense: Distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Western District of Virginia
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 26, 2008)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on April 18, 2017.
Stacia Smith – Dolton, IL
Offense: Narcotics conspiracy; use of a telephone in drug conspiracy (two counts); using/carrying a firearm in relation to a drug offense; Northern District of Illinois
Sentence: 252 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (October 26, 2005)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on April 18, 2017.
Steven Blair Speal – Oklahoma City, OK
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm by a prohibited person (two counts); District of Kansas
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $5,000 fine (October 30, 1997)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 19, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Kenneth Stover, Jr. – Cleveland, OH
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possess with intent to distribute cocaine; conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana; unlawful use of a communication facility (two counts); felon in possession of ammunition; use of a firearm in the commission of a drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Ohio
Sentence: Life imprisonment (August 27, 2003)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 19, 2017.
Don Thomas, Jr. – Essex, MD
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute narcotics (five kilograms or more of cocaine); possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; District of Maryland
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 19, 2006)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted a term of 240 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Tracy Maurice Thomas – Weldon, NC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base (crack); using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime (two counts); possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of cocaine base (crack); Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: 437 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (July 13, 2009); amended to 420 months’ imprisonment (December 17, 2014)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Mark David Turner – Opelika, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine; possession of pseudoephedrine (precursor chemical) knowing and having reasonable cause to believe that the pseudoephedrine would be used to manufacture five grams or more of methamphetamine (two counts); using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking offense (two counts); possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; manufacture and possess with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine (two counts); Middle District of Alabama
Sentence: 481 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (November 12, 2002)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 19, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Darnell L. Walker – Detroit, MI
Offense: Conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; possession of firearm by convicted felon (two counts); Northern District of Ohio
Sentence: Life imprisonment (December 26, 1995)Jeffrey Scott Welch – Glendale, AZ
Offense: Distribution of methamphetamine (two counts); possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime (two counts); unlawful possession of a firearm; District of Arizona
Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $5,000 fine (December 10, 1992)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 19, 2018 and unpaid balance of the $5,000 fine remitted at the time of his release, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Billy Dee Williams – Charlotte, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; using/carrying firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and aiding and abetting; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 11, 2006)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 228 months’ imprisonment.
Pardoned
Theresa Marie Bishop, aka Teresa Clark – Pittsburgh, PA
Offense: Knowingly disposing of a firearm to a person convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year (three counts); falsification of firearms purchase forms (two counts) (Western District of Pennsylvania)
Sentence: Three years’ probation, conditioned upon one year of home detention (December 8, 2006)
Tavia Dion Blume – Snohomish, WA
Offense: Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; use of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense (District of Montana)
Sentence: 42 months’ imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (May 21, 1999) (as amended July 12, 1999)
James Harold Keaton – Bassett, VA
Offense: Possession of a stolen firearm (Western District of Virginia)
Sentence: 30 months’ probation, conditioned upon 50 hours of community service (November 9, 2007)
Bryan Scot Sandquist – Gig Harbor, WA
Offense: Felon in possession of a firearm (District of Oregon)
Sentence: 40 months’ imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (November 4, 2002)
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