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Is Granting Clemency To 22 Convicted Drug Dealers The Best Use Of Obama's Time?
As anyone who has followed our coverage of the great American student debt bubble knows, President Obama has been in a forgiving mood lately what with The White House’s move to contemplate more efficient bankruptcy procedures that may allow for the discharge of tens or even hundreds of millions in student debt all courtesy of the US taxpayer. As it turns out, the same spirit of compassion, leniency, and a blatant disregard for personal responsibility and accountability applies to another group of Americans: crack dealers.
At issue is whether it’s “fair” to keep criminals imprisoned when sentencing guidelines have changed since their convictions. In other words, had they just waited to get themselves caught, they would have gotten off a lot easier and given that, it’s high time someone in Washington set things right for them.
Setting aside the sarcasm for a moment, there probably is something to the idea that if the justice system was handing out sentences that were grossly incommensurate with the crimes they were meant to punish, then some folks are likely owed an apology and probably much more and allowing former students to discharge debt is obviously not entirely comparable to letting criminals out of prison. Our only question is whether the best use of the President’s time is granting clemency to nearly two dozen convicted drug dealers. View the details below and decide for yourself:
Here’s more via The White House:
Building on his commitment to address instances of unfairness in sentencing, President Obama granted 22 commutations today to individuals serving time in federal prison. Had they been sentenced under current laws and policies, many of these individuals would have already served their time and paid their debt to society. Because many were convicted under an outdated sentencing regime, they served years — in some cases more than a decade — longer than individuals convicted today of the same crime.
In total, the 22 commutations granted today underscore the President’s commitment to using all the tools at his disposal to bring greater fairness and equity to our justice system. Further, they demonstrate how exercising this important authority can remedy imbalances and rectify errors in sentencing. Added to his prior 21 commutations, the President has now granted 43 commutations total. To put President Obama’s actions in context, President George W. Bush commuted 11 sentences in his eight years in office.
* * *
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Barack Obama granted commutations of sentence to the following 22 individuals:
• Terry Andre Barnes – East Moline, IL Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; supervised release violation (distribution of cocaine base) (Southern District of Iowa) Sentence: 246 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 25, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Theresa Brown – Pompano Beach, FL Offense: Conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine (Southern District of Florida) Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Mar. 29, 1995) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Donel Marcus Clark – Dallas, TX Offense: Conspiracy; use of a communication facility (five counts); distribution and/or possession of cocaine or manufacturing in or near a school facility, aiding and abetting (Northern District of Texas) Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release (Nov. 12, 1993); amended to 360 months’ imprisonment (August 20, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Ricky Bernard Coggins – Tallahassee, FL Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (Northern District of Florida) Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 3, 1993) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Samuel Pasqual Edmondson – Junction City, KS Offense: Conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (Eastern District of Texas) Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Sep. 24, 1997) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Amado Garcia – Fresno, CA Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine; aiding and abetting the possession of methamphetamine; aiding and abetting the possession of heroin (District of Wyoming) Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $2,000 fine (Nov. 29, 2001) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Dwight Anthony Goddard – Decatur, GA Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (Middle District of Georgia) Sentence: 235 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (Feb. 7, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Lionel Ray Hairston – Ridgeway, VA Offense: Distribution of cocaine base (three counts) (Western District of Virginia) Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (May 27, 1999) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Francis Darrell Hayden – Loretto, KY Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 1,000 or more marijuana plants or 1,000 or more kilograms of marijuana; manufacture of 1,000 or more marijuana plants (Eastern District of Michigan) Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Apr. 2, 2002) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Harold Kenneth Herring – Havana, FL Offense: Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (Northern District of Florida) Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Jan. 22, 1998) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Tommie Lee Hollingshed – Memphis, TN Offense: Distribution of a controlled substance (two counts) (Western District of Tennessee) Sentence: 324 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release (May 1, 1996) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Derrick DeWayne Johnson – Birmingham, AL Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine (Northern District of Alabama) Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release (Nov. 18, 1998) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months.
• Robert Martinez-Gil – San Antonio, TX Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin (Western District of Texas) Sentence: Life imprisonment (July 9, 1992) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• David Navejar – Brooksville, FL Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine (Middle District of Florida) Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Jan. 27, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Rudolph Norris – Washington, D.C. Offense: Unlawful distribution of cocaine base; unlawful possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base (District of Columbia) Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (Apr. 5, 1993) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Tracy Lynn Petty – Shelby, NC Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (Western District of North Carolina) Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Mar. 30, 2006); amended to 204 months’ imprisonment (February 25, 2008) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Luis Razo – Davenport, IA Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine (Southern District of Iowa) Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Jan. 3, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Antwon Rogers – Cleveland, OH Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 139.8 grams of cocaine base (Northern District of Ohio) Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Jan. 30, 1995) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Herman Rosenboro –Kingsport, TN Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine and over 50 grams of cocaine base; distribution of a quantity of cocaine base (two counts); distribution of a quantity of cocaine (two counts) (Eastern District of Tennessee) Sentence: Life imprisonment; six years’ supervised release (Dec. 3, 2001) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Lawrence Elmo Scott – Lynchburg, VA Offense: Distribution of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school (Western District of Virginia) Sentence: 283 months’ imprisonment; six years’ supervised release; $4,000 fine (Apr. 8, 2003) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Levar V. Wade – Chicago, IL Offense: Possession of 50 or more grams of crack cocaine with intent to distribute (Central District of Illinois) Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 28, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
• Eugene Winters – Cedar Rapids, IA Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base (Southern District of Iowa) Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (Feb. 23, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 28, 2015.
And for those wondering what the geographic distribution of the forgiven looks like:
(click the maps for interactive versions via Washington Post)
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we granted some falks (c)
I've been freed! Free at last!
Why?
(PS One "folk" named An Na Peng was let off the hook in Hawaii. Any bets about connections?)
Why indeed. Seems to me that most if not all the crisis actors are becoming a bit to recognizable. Just my opinion.
Would you prefer him golfing in Hawaii instead?
Obama's regular coke dealer go out of the business, so he is looking for a new guy...
Lavar V. Wade - Beloit Daily News - March 1, 2003
Search warrants executed at two homes in the city on Friday resulted in the arrest of two Beloit men.The first was about 2:50 p.m., Friday, when members of the Stateline Area Narcotics Team and Beloit Police Department Tactical Unit searched the house at 115 Merrill St. There they found Lavar V. Wade, also known as Lee Williams, of the 700 block of Euclid Avenue and arrested him. Wade, 25, is being held in Rock County Jail on several charges. He was wanted on a dangerous drugs warrant issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Springfield, Ill., drug violations in Rock County and a warrant for obstructing an officer in Beloit.
David Navejar - St Pete Times - Dec. 22, 2001
Quinson Croson was dealing a lot of crack cocaine in east Pasco County, law enforcement officials said. Investigators set out to find Croson's suppliers and his customers. Sixteen months later, authorities say they have busted the most prolific methamphetamine ring in Pasco County history. The organization -- and its kingpin, Sergio Contreras of Dade City -- supplied methamphetamines through Hillsborough, Hernando, and Citrus counties, law enforcement officials said. Among the arrested was David Navejar, a 4 times convicted drug supplier.
These are all Federals who were on their way to northern Idaho if things went good, and now they have.
"The Best Use of Obama's time?"
The good intention/supposition behind that question is that the POTUS is doing important things to help the country. The best use of this POTUS time is anything that's not official business of the US. Gracious sakes - we're getting down toward only 18 months left! Oh, then there's the next yahoo (could they possibly be as bad as this yahoo?)
I'd rather Il Douche do this than fuck up traffic for hours on end on its way to another fundraiser or golf course.
Obama to do list:
Play Golf
Practice reading teleprompter scripts written by someone else
Bend over for Michael
Free time
"Gracious sakes - we're getting down toward only 18 months left! Oh, then there's the next yahoo (could they possibly be as bad as this yahoo?)"
I remember exactly the same sentiment at the end of the Bush 2nd term. And look what we got. The actors don't matter; pay attention to the plot. This show is not going to get better because of a new star. Until the entire system is removed, it will get worse. Bet on it.
We commutated some folks
If you're gonna say it, say it properly.
No. A better use might be to get some golfing lessons and improve his shitty game.
Let's face it, he can't lead a nation.
I beg your pardon. He's doing a fine job of leading this nation right into the shitter!
The turd has been circling for a while, getting close to the bottom...
Are you blaming him for flushing?
I feel better already after hearing this news.
WTF!
We clemenced some folks. Fuck off sheeple.
The white house actually used Black, Red and Grey (half black half white) to designate the folks that were granted commutations ?
that's raaayyycccciiiissst - - -
NoVa
In the Land of the Free drugs are illegal.
Making room in the prisons for Hillary?
Would I be correct in suggesting all, or nearly all, are vibrants?
No, more golfing before he fucks anything else up
Sorry. Duplicate!
Why not the best use of Obama's time -- all of 10 seconds?? Given the influxs of "drugs" from TPTP, in part to fuel the for-profit prison industry....Etc. The sentences will prove even stiffer the next time through the system for these marked men and women.
Elmo got popped for selling crack near a school?! Damn, I didn't catch that episode of Sesame Street...
<Golf Clap>
For once I agree with BO! 30 years for intent to sell coke....BFD
These are arbitrary crimes. They have arbitrary sentences. The common law had 1000 years to figure out what crimes are, and the politicians have fucked that up in less than 80.
Yes. We understood the difference between "malum in se" and "malum prohibitum" until the police and the pharmaceutical industry wanted a monopoly. The for-profit prison industry has lately gotten into the act.
Can someone explain the meaning of "conspiracy" ...
in relation to these crimes?
I thought the Government did not believe in conspiracies ...
I agree with all the pardons except for Tommie Lee H.
Anyone with the name 'Tommie Lee' is likely going to be trouble to society down the road
Ask Heather Locklear or Pamela Anderson about that.
Bush I commuted Ollie North. After that, anyone deserves clemency.
Ollie did it for the chittlens.
Yes it is and holy shit it's about the only non-evil thing he's done during his entire dubious reign. If he really wanted to make a positive difference in this country, he'd get a daily list of everyone convicted of drug possession/sale only and issue them a blanket pardon before even taking his morning piss.
+1000
AGREED
Anyone who thinks Obama does ANYTHING for justice is delusional. He is busy funding the police and justice department and sending them out for you and me, while doing anything he can to highlight the injustices of the same departments. Its all debasement, destruction, division. He will not be happy until there is a civil war....all around the world.
The list of our chosen sides in civil wars already has long history, all around the world.
Funny, it looks like practically all of these guys were trafficking in coke and a little bit of meth. And believe it or not, those are schedule II drugs which are considered by the gubmint as less harmful than marijuana, a schedule I drug.
What do you expect from a community organizer that's never held a full time job, or owned a business in his life?
I really think a prerequisite for being president should be either having owned(not run) a business, or having earned some upper level professional license. (litigation lawyers excluded)
Obama hasn't had to make a serious sacrifice ever in his life! Obanana is the prodigal offspring of Affirmative Action.
I can think of a whole buncha more shit that I'd never ever have even thought of prior to the last 6 years that would get my ass slung right outta here.
Yeah, I'll get around to adding to my 10th step list sometime and that takes care of that problem, too.
Take your son golfing this weekend Knuks. It's so dry in Cali. You guys can probably get by with a bag of irons on par5 holes. :-)
Buck Up little camper...
Oh, we are, we are.
Unfortunately, rain is forecast for Sunday. But a mom (God rest her soul) always said: "It always rains on Easter Sunday. It's supposed to."
PS Son is not so little, as in mammoth. He can hit a 3 iron further than most people hit drivers. And just got promoted to (The) Assisitant Wine Maker and Cellar Master at a vey prestegious winery. He'll be overseeing the remodeling of the winery this year and hiring interns. Booyah!
Drug dealers, corrupt crony bankers, Wall Street casino operators, Jon Corzine, et. al. - nothing to fear; your deeds are sanctioned and supported by .gov.
Honest hard working moral and ethical individuals? We are the ones with a bullseye painted on us.
p.s. - Legalize marijuanna already you dope!
Victoria Nuland told the Russians that Dick Cheny runs USA Inc.
Life in prison for 4.5 ounces of coke? Not sure what cocaine base is, but life seems like they threw the book at 'em?
It's baking powder and cocaine. Crack is poor peoples cocaine and it was conveniently deemed 100 times worse than wall street's straight cocaine.
Fair play to Obama, heinous sentencing.
Maybe it wasn't his first felony?
Set your wayback machines to Sept 1973 where months earlier the Rockefeller Law came into effect. The standing in front of judge Haft in Manhattan received news that those 4oz of powdered coke could get me a mandatory 15-life!! Needless to say...I fled
If the Kenyan wants to maintain his supples it is!
Normally presidents wait till the last month of their presidency before they commute all the lower level criminals. The higher level ones get commuted throughout the presidency.
I am stopping off on the way home today at my local 'drug' dealers place of business, to pick up a few 'legal' 21 oz. bottles of Sapporo. The business is a liquor store, but by any other name, is a 'drug' dealer all the same. And when one factors in the $cost to individuals, families, businesses and society at large, the damage done by the drug Alcohol is arguably an order of magnitude greater than other 'illegal' drugs.
I never cease to crack a sneer when I hear the term 'alcohol AND drugs' used in the same sentence, as though there is a clear delineation between them. The delineation of course being that certain 'drugs' are kept illegal and therefore 'scarce', thus enabling the steady flow of $$$ to pay for salaries, paramilitary equipment and lobbying that comprise the 'drug-dealer' trade, which in this particular context means those who wear uniforms, a badge and have the 'law' on their side...
Anything he does that distracts him from killing more kids is a benefit to humanity.
I doubt anyone here can give a compelling, cogent reason why any of thise "crimes" deserve any punishment. You simply cannot identify the injured party, hence no crime.
All crime must involve at minimum one real individual victim; no victim, no crime.
The criminals are the ones terrorizing us with these drug laws, kidnapping and caging and enslaving peaceful Americans (not to mention wasting money, ruining other countries, creating and maintaining black markets and gangs etc)
"All crime must involve at minimum one real individual victim; no victim, no crime."
I'm no greenie weenie; but, I'm going to disagree here and open the can: just because no human being was knowingly directly visibly 'victimized' does not mean that property was not destroyed, that the environoment was not damaged, that aid was not with-held, that progress or justice was not impeded, the peace not disrupted.
IMHO, it is criminal to destroy cultural and artistic treasures, to deface or degrade the environment, to eradicate plants and animals without care or cause, to sequester or with-hold without good cause sorely needed information, supplies, medicine, technology, etc.
I revere my planet/environment, and I love and respect the other non-human citizens/denizens that dwell upon it; some unknown and unknowable number of which my very existence, if not the quality of life, may in fact depend upon...
Smoking a joint may not be a crime; but, burning down a forest for kicks, dumping poisons into the ocean to save a few bucks, or vivisecting cats and rabbits to sell more eyeliner to elderly women -for just a few instances- ARE in my book..
I wholly expect and welcome some downvoters. ...& My middle finger salutes them...
That said. It sounds like Obama is freeing heavy drug syndicate types. Somehow it doesn't surprise me after the Guantanamo 5 for Berdeserter trade.
These guys are not your average neighborhood user as sometime weed dealer. These aren't troubled teens caught with small amounts.
Generally speaking these people were likely full time pushers, dealt in quantity and moved product and money around, which also implies that regular brandishing and threatening -at a minimum- were a part of the territory aquisition and maintenance regime...
Dam only a few hours later
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/iran-accuses-u-s-of-lying-about-...
I like zerohedge but they seem clueless on this one.
END THE DRUG WAR AND STOP CAGING PEACEFUL PEOPLE!
It is criminal to kidnap and cage people for using drugs, and these drug gangs and street dealers would not exist if not for our idiotic and evil war on drug users (it's a war on people, with medical problems).
Crack ain't peaceful and the people robbed and murdered to pay for it isn't either.
Noticed a lot of African A's and latinos on that list. No love fo the white ho.
Obama is a fucking asshole. Fuck him
You are so correct, but while they do indeed kidnap and cage people, their ulterior motive is to generate slaves for the prison-industrial-complex.
The 13th. Amendment:
Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
The banksters need to repay us.
Like drug dealers are not building their "slave" dependent army. There is something definitively evil about people who sell drugs knowing they are participating in their customer's destruction. If only drug dealers were the only ones. Obama is the biggest "pusher" of them all, building his dependency constituancy slave army.
In an economy that were not being looted and pillaged by the Zionist banksters and their violence-puppets, government, how many would be able or willing, to join such a "slave dependent army?"
How many of the plundered and destitute are also forced into the DC US' "slave dependent army" of treason to be used overseas as steal or kill cannon fodder?
And I'd rather have a drug dealer offering his product on the corner than the gun and badge thugs going around threatening me and mine in the streets, and in our homes, in their extortions, robberies and shakedowns.
The banksters need to repay us.
Real terrorists wear badges.
Gota getem back on the street to fund the agency's
Just making connections for later, like after public life.
life in prison for growing over 1000 carbon dioxide absorbers????
DAFUQ????
They were probably framed to begin with. Kerry and Holder are the ones you want to catch and keep.
In "The Jig is Up, part 1", on perpetualassets's channel on YouTube, Jim Willie says Obama was given $1 Billion after he was elected and it is stored at the Vatican. I don't know if it's true but Jim Willie is a, super, smart guy.
You gotta love the Willie!
Both parts...
https://www.perpetualassets.com/news/2015/04/02/the-jig-is-up-with-jim-w...
Not to defend CIA-Obama, and I am sure there is an ulterior motive behind it--always about money, power, and division--but so-called "drug crimes" are really political crimes.
There are only two types of crimes, those with a victim, and those where the victim is only the assertion by the state that they are the victim. Such an assertion of victim hood by the state makes what is really a victimless crime a political crime.
The banksters need to repay us.
Yes actually, this is the best use of his time I have heard about since he became president.
Agreed! This is the first thing he's done that I can remember that actually served the cause of justice.
He needs to let all the people out that were sentenced for smoking, selling or growing pot.
for barry, family comes first
get those relatives free barry
Compared to golfing?....YES!
Funniest will be to see how many of these motherfuckers end up back in the slammer 6 months from now going right back to doing what got them there in the first place.
Obama really is a dumb motherfucker.
Might I offer the possibility that since no banker has been convicted of anything - there are none that need clemency?
What about the CIA criminals that invented Crack cocaine and bring it into the country? I don't hear anybody talking about them. It's like talking about a cure for cancer (they're never going to let it happen) instead of what is causing the cancer... which for the most part is the puppet government.
Those were precious minutes he wasn't working to usher in the Mahdi.
Like we dont hasve enough criminals in America ...
Executive Clemency is is an Important Constitutional Function of The President, and its Use and Exercise Serves Liberty:
No Matter how Big or Powerful "The System" is, One Individual can, with a Stroke of the Pen, Cancel it.
It is a Vital Principle in our Constitution, and any President Serves Us Well, by Knowing it and Using it, Regardless of Motives.
The "War on Drugs" is a Failure because it is in fact a "War on Demand", which cannot be extinguished by Any Means.
These Actions Serve to bring that into Focus.
In Time it will be clear that The "War on Drugs" cost Society more in Resources, both Material and Human, than having allowed it in the First Place.
The Individuals Pardoned are not important; The Message The President Conveys, is.
Finally, these Pardons Serve to Highlight the Only Real Issue in The Application of Criminal Jurisprudence in The United States:
The Punishment Must Fit The Crime.
This Concept is Embodied in the Eighth Amendment.
It is both a Matter of Liberty and Practicality for Society.
Any Time of The President on Matters Serving Our Constitution and The Dialogue on Issues of American Society, is Time Well Spent.