Overall, President Obama has commuted more sentences than the past 11 Presidents combined, and still has more than three months left in office. (Chart: WhiteHouse.gov)
President Obama on Thursday commuted the sentences of 102 federal inmates serving hard time– but it turns out that many went to jail partially because of the illegal guns they carried.
In a statement termed, “102 Second Chances” White House Counsel Neil Eggleston explained the vast majority of the grants were for individuals serving “unduly harsh sentences for drug-related crimes under outdated sentencing laws.”
Eggleston pointed out that the pace of commutations issued by the Obama administration is much more brisk than any that has preceded it.
“With today’s grants, the President has commuted 774 sentences, more than the previous 11 presidents combined,” noted Eggleston. “With a total of 590 commutations this year, President Obama has now commuted the sentences of more individuals in one year than in any other single year in our nation’s history.”
One in six of those who had their terms commuted this week were behind bars on a combination of drug charges that also involved firearms possession, usually by a prohibited possessor.
The President commuted 111 federal prisoners in late August, in which a number of those with firearms charges were featured. Earlier the same month he did likewise 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.
Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates advised that more commutations are likely in the final months of President Obama’s term.
“The department has made great progress reviewing applications under the President’s clemency initiative to correct unduly harsh and outdated drug sentences,” Yates said in a statement Thursday. “President Obama has commuted 774 sentences, which is more than were commuted in the prior 66 years preceding his administration combined and we expect to continue to make history with additional commutations in the months ahead.”
Of the 102 commutations issued, the following 16 federal inmates were doing hard time for crimes that included weapons charges.
· Shawn Leo Barth – Bismarck, ND
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute methamphetamine; distribution of a controlled substance methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance marijuana; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm/ammunition; District of North Dakota
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 22, 2004)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 322 months’ imprisonment.
· Leroy Fondren, Jr. – Kansas City, KS
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; use of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; District of Kansas
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (March 26, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on February 3, 2017.
· Lancell Maurice Harris – Little Rock, AR
Offense: Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute (two counts); carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime (two counts); Eastern District of Arkansas
Sentence: 421 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release (December 1, 1993); amended to 397 months’ imprisonment (July 1, 2008); amended to 363 months’ imprisonment (November 3, 2011); amended to 360 months’ imprisonment (November 25, 2014)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on February 3, 2017.
· Dontae Lamont Hunt – Atlanta, GA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of cocaine base (two counts); carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; District of Oregon
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (September 23, 2005)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on February 3, 2017.
· Arthur Jarrod Jackson – Dallas, TX
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute crack and aiding and abetting; carrying or use of a firearm during a drug crime and aiding and abetting; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 19, 1994)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on February 3, 2017.
· Gerald Lofton – Warren, OH
Offense: Conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Ohio
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 18, 2008)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 6, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
· Tesmone Darin Paschal – Maryville, TN
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; aided and abetted in the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (April 2, 2007)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment.
· Karl Eugene Peacock – Bossier City, LA
Offense: Conspiracy to violate 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 241 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 13, 2005); amended to 240 months’ imprisonment (November 1, 2014)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 217 months’ imprisonment.
· Cornelius D. Porter – Mount Rainer, MD
Offense: Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of cocaine base; District of Maryland
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (December 9, 2002)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 6, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
· Kenny Siepker – Carroll, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture; unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine while on pretrial release; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: 372 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (October 11, 2002)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 300 months’ imprisonment.
· James Harold Smith – Waynesboro, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (two counts); Western District of Virginia
Sentence: 411 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (November 2, 2006)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 6, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
· Chip J.W. Teague – Sallisaw, OK
Offense: Possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of firearm moved in interstate commerce (three counts); possession of firearm during drug trafficking crime (two counts); possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; manufacture methamphetamine (two counts); maintain place for manufacture of methamphetamine; Eastern District of Oklahoma
Sentence: 495 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 25, 2000)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 6, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
· Shannon Alexander Washington – Lexington, KY
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; carrying firearm and ammunition during and in relation to drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Kentucky
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (September 28, 2007); amended to 240 months’ imprisonment (October 6, 2008)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 6, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
· Henry Lee White – Orlando, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; using and carrying a firearm during and relation to a drug trafficking crime; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (October 21, 1998); amended to 340 months’ imprisonment (May 18, 1999)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on February 3, 2017.
· Charles M. Woolsey – West Baden Springs, IN
Offense: Possession of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine (mixture); possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession of marijuana; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; prohibited person in possession of a firearm; Southern District of Indiana
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (October 27, 2006); amended to life imprisonment (October 21, 2008)Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 300 months’ imprisonment.
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