President Obama is using his last few months in office to commute the sentences of criminals, many of whom committed crimes with guns.
Of the 98 commuted sentences President Obama signed on Thursday, 19 of them had felony firearms convictions. 19.3 percent of them had felony gun convictions.
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“Earlier this month, President Obama granted commutation to 102 federal inmates. Today, he granted another 98 commutations, underscoring his commitment to using his clemency authority through the remainder of his time in office,” the White House said in a statement.
The White House shares the details of the commutations issued. Here are the 19 gun-related individuals:
- Mark Lamont Byrd – St. Louis, MO
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute in excess of five grams of cocaine base; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of cocaine base
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release
Commutation: Prison sentence commuted to expire on February 24, 2017.- Kevin Wayne Daniels – Austin, TX
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; felon in possession of a firearm
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release
Commutation: Prison sentence commuted to 175 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.- Charlton Oriaso Esekhigbe – Missouri City, TX
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Southern District of Texas
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release
Commutation: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 27, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.- John Aundo Gamble – Myrtle Beach, SC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; using, carrying and possessing a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release
Commutation: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 27, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.- Stephen Runea Glenn – Houston, TX
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release
Commutation: Prison sentence commuted to expire on February 24, 2017.- Wayne Gross – St. Louis, MO
Offense: Unlawful user of controlled substances while in possession of firearms; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base (crack); carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime
Sentence: 248 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release
Commutation: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 27, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.- Tony Orlando Hughes – Newport News, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine and cocaine base; distribute cocaine base (22 counts); distribute cocaine (two counts); possession of firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime (eight counts); possess with intent to distribute cocaine (three counts)
Sentence: 2,616 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release
Commutation: Prison sentence commuted to 360 months’ imprisonment.- Gerald Jerome Johnson – Jamestown, ND
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
Sentence: Life plus 25 years’ imprisonment
Commutation: Prison sentence commuted to 300 months’ imprisonment.- Jaleel Abdul Lafi, III – Hopkins Park, IL
Offense: Distribution of five or more grams of cocaine base (“crack”) (three counts); distribution of 50 or more grams of cocaine base (“crack”); possession of a firearm in relation to drug trafficking crime
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release
Commutation: Prison sentence commuted to expire on February 24, 2017.- Bobby Earl Lee – St. Petersburg, FL
Offense: Possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with the intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment
Commutation: Prison sentence commuted to 360 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.- Rico Mayo – Benicia, CA
Offense: Possession of five or more grams of cocaine base; use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base
Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release
Commutation: Prison sentence commuted to expire on February 24, 2017.- Terrance Ramon Merritt – Fort Walton Beach, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and marijuana; possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, a detectable amount of MDMA and a detectable amount of marijuana; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release
Commutation: Prison sentence commuted to 262 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.- Ernest Moore, Jr. – Tuskegee, AL
Offense: Distribution of cocaine base (two counts); possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts); carrying a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking offense
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on February 24, 2017.- Anthony Pender – Laurel, MD
Offense: Possession of a firearm by convicted felon; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to 188 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.- Reisa Lynn Pettiette – Athens, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine; conspiracy to possess a listed chemical knowing it will be used to manufacture a controlled substance; possession of a listed chemical with intent to manufacture a controlled substance; possession and distribution of a listed chemical with intent to manufacture a controlled substance; possession of an unregistered firearm; use, carrying, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on February 24, 2017.- Leon Smallwood – Alton, IL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base (three counts); felon in possession of a firearm
Sentence: Life imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release; $2,500 fine
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on February 24, 2017.- Stanley D. Thomasson – Poplar Bluff, MO
Offense: Used/carried firearms during drug trafficking crime (two counts); possession of Schedule II narcotic controlled substance (three counts)
Sentence: 421 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release; amended to 397 months’ imprisonment
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 27, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.- Hayzen Turner, Jr. – Adamsville, AL
Offense: Distribution of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base (three counts); distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base (two counts); possession with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base, cocaine hydrochloride and marijuana; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense; felon in possession of a firearm (three counts)
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to 180 months’ imprisonment.- Daryl Wilkes – Virginia Beach, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine base and cocaine; knowingly and intentionally distribute cocaine base (20 counts); knowingly possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime (two counts); knowingly and intentionally distribute cocaine (eight counts); knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute cocaine (two counts);
Sentence: 952 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; amended to 780 months’ imprisonment; amended to 480 months’ imprisonment
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to 300 months’ imprisonment.
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According to Margie Peerce, one of the attorneys who represented three of the inmates, people are outraged by the number of President Obama’s commutations are for criminals convicted of gun crimes.
Gee, I wonder why.
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