President Obama speaks to reporters during his visit to the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution outside Oklahoma City in July. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
President Obama commuted the sentences of 58 inmates Thursday as part of his ongoing initiative to release federal prisoners who have received severe mandatory sentences for non-violent drug offenses.
With this latest round of commutations, Obama has granted clemency to a total 306 inmates, 110 of whom were serving life sentences. Obama has said he will continue granting commutations during his final months in office to inmates who meet certain criteria set out by the Justice Department.
Of the inmates granted clemency Thursday, 18 had been sentenced to life without parole. One was Fulton “Wash” Washington, of Compton, Calif., who was convicted on PCP charges. At his sentencing, the judge lamented that harsh mandatory minimum sentences were not meant for offenders like Washington, but he had not choice. His daughter, who is 31, was 10 years old when Washington was sent to prison for the rest of his life.
“I was able to tell both Wash and his daughter today that he is coming home,” said attorney James E. Felman. “His daughter just broke down and started screaming and crying with hysteria. It’s just unbelievable. I’m still in tears.”
In a posting on Medium.com, Obama said he has been inspired by the stories of the inmates who have already received clemency, several of whom he met with last month.
“Each of their stories was extraordinary,” Obama wrote.
Since the Obama administration launched its high-profile clemency initiative two years ago, thousands of inmates have applied. More than 9,000 petitions are pending.
Here are the names of the 58 prisoners who most recently received commutations, according to the Justice Department:
Jasmine Allen – Bunnell, Fla.
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; manage or control a residence for the purpose of unlawfully manufacturing, storing and distributing a controlled substance; distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 235 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (Nov. 5, 2008); amended to 188 months imprisonment (Feb. 29, 2016)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Timothy Antjuan Augustus – Hampton, Va.
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine base and cocaine; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 210 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (March 1, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Shannon Lee Blake – Phoenix, Ariz.
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; District of Wyoming
Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $1,000 fine (July 2, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 5, 2018.
Steven Bernard Boyd – Augusta, Ga.
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and to possess cocaine and cocaine base with intent to distribute; distribution of cocaine hydrochloride (three counts); possession of cocaine and cocaine base with intent to distribute; Southern District of Georgia
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (Sept. 29, 1998)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Donald Brooks – West Point, Ga.
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine and at least 50 grams of cocaine base; Northern District of Georgia
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (Oct. 18, 2002)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Eddie Brown – D.C.
Offense: Unlawful possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of cocaine base; District of Columbia
Sentence: Life imprisonment (Sept. 20, 1990)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 5, 2017.
Charles C. Brown – Providence, R.I.
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of cocaine base; District of Rhode Island
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (May 20, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Aundra Coats – Cleveland
Offense: Distribution of cocaine base; Northern District of Ohio
Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 21, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Jacob George Colbert – Richmond, Calif.
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of cocaine base; District of Minnesota
Sentence: 235 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (Dec. 8, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 5, 2018.
Dwayne Berman Cooper – Miami
Offense: Conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to manufacture cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of cocaine with intent to manufacture cocaine base; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (Aug. 27, 1996)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Marion Clarence Cooper – Miami
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and aiding and abetting; District of South Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (Nov. 12, 1996)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Vernon Copeland – Smyrna, Ga.
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; laundering of monetary instruments (three counts); Northern District of Georgia
Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (May 19, 1992)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Wade Cutchen – Newport News, Va.
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute heroin and cocaine; possession with intent to distribute heroin; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 324 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (Sept. 15, 2000); amended to 262 months imprisonment (May 19, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Feb. 2017.
Roberto Antonio Davila – San Antonio, Tex.
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; distribution of marijuana and aiding and abetting said offense; Western District of Texas
Sentence: Life imprisonment; three years supervised release (Feb. 28, 1995)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Efrem Rahoman Douglas – Knoxville, Tenn.
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 300 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (Sept. 19, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Thomas Farmer – Cincinnati, Ohio
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Kentucky
Sentence: Life imprisonment (Dec. 7, 1995)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 5, 2017.
Roy Geer – Tavanier, Fla.
Offense: Conspiracy to import cocaine; attempt to import cocaine; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; attempt to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: 252 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release, $8,500 fine (May 24, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Christopher Gulley – Pensacola, Fla.
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 12, 1996)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Jamal Hanson – Temple Hills, Md.
Offense: 1. Distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base; District of Columbia. 2. Possession of contraband in federal prison; District of New Jersey
Sentence: 1. 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (Aug. 2, 2002); 2. Eight months imprisonment (July 16, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Antonio Nicholas Hill – Taylors, S.C.
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 15, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Carla Yvette Holte – Largo, Fla.
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base (two counts); possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 262 months imprisonment; five years supervised release (Nov. 2, 2001)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 5, 2018.
Corey D. Howard – Indianapolis
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute in excess of five kilograms of cocaine (mixture); Southern District of Indiana
Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $2,000 fine (Feb. 9, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
George Howard Jones – Raleigh, N.C.
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine base and cocaine; Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (Aug. 22, 1996)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Joseph John Jones – Tarpon Springs, Fla.
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture containing cocaine and 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (Aug. 6, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Twaine Jones – Washington Park, Ill.
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; Southern District of Illinois
Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; five years supervised release, $5,000 fine (Nov. 6, 2000); amended to 324 months imprisonment (Oct. 29, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Abbas Rauf Kareem – Daytona Beach, Fla.
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 12, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 5, 2018.
Kenneth W. Kemp – Guttenberg, N.J.
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base (three counts); did cause interstate travel in aid of racketeering (two counts); possession with intent to distribute cocaine; distribution of cocaine; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years supervised release (April 11, 1994)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Tomma Jean Kent – Des Moines
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (Sept. 21, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 5, 2018.
Rick Lee Lamere – Bellingham, Wash.
Offense: Conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute; District of Montana
Sentence: 460 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (Jan. 13, 2005); amended to 320 months imprisonment, 10 years supervised release (Jan. 11, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 5, 2018.
Ohara Linear Laws – Houston
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Southern District of Texas
Sentence: 282 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (Sept. 19, 2003); amended to 240 months imprisonment (May 8, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Larry Lewis – Pensacola, Fla.
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 360 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $1,000 fine (Oct. 20, 1999); amended to 324 months imprisonment (June 18, 2006); amended to 262 months imprisonment (July 2, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 5, 2017.
Trevis Love – Harriman, Tenn.
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release (June 27, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
Leonard Mason – Claymont, Del.
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Sentence: 240 months imprisonment; 10 years supervised release; $2,500 fine (Feb. 2, 2011)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on Sept. 2, 2016.
as a judge u always have a choice to determine if someone deserves life or not..... my black people please stay away from any type of crime even if u steal a hersey candy bar u might end up getting 2 life sentences , because the judge might say he doesn't have a choice
