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- 2021/04/22 02:00
- 投稿者: moriK
- 表示回数 317
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Vice President Joe Biden spoke to Prime Minister of Kosovo Hashim Thaci yesterday. The Vice President expressed hope that Kosovo and Serbia could get beyond recent tensions and intensify their efforts to normalize relations through the EU-led Dialogue, in order to improve the lives of the citizens of both nations.
Vice President Joe Biden spoke to President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot Leader Mustafa Akinci from Air Force 2 yesterday. The Vice President commended the courage and determination of both leaders, which has resulted in the historic progress settlement talks have achieved to date. The Vice President expressed hope that the momentum of the talks would continue, and pledged to continue to remain available to the leaders even after his term has ended.
Vice President Joe Biden spoke to Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras yesterday. The Vice President thanked Prime Minister Tsipras for his personal engagement as talks to reunify Cyprus as a bizonal, bicommunal federation reach a critical juncture. The Vice President expressed appreciation for the strong partnership the U.S. and Greece have enjoyed during the Prime Minister's tenure.
WASHINGTON – Today, the President granted commutation of sentence to 330 individuals:
Abdulmuntaqim Ad-Deen – Baltimore, MD
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; District of Maryland
Sentence: 235 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (October 8, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Lesly Alexis – Boca Raton, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine powder and more than 50 grams of cocaine base; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 384 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release; $1,000 fine (July 29, 2003)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months' imprisonment.
Gary J. Anderson – Barre, VT
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute MDMA; distribution of MDMA; District of Massachusetts
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (March 16, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 18, 2017.
Terry Anderson – Mabank, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine; conspiracy to launder money; Eastern District of Texas
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (May 1, 1997)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Kevin Lavon Andrews – Clearwater, FL
Offense: Carrying or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 300 months' imprisonment; 120 months' supervised release (February 11, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 156 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment
Daniel Ary, Jr. – Shreveport, LA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in relation to drug trafficking; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 180 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (March 6, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Demetrius S. Autery – Winter Haven, FL
Offense: Possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (April 4, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Connie Avalos – Menifee, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; Eastern District of Kentucky
Sentence: Life imprisonment (November 30, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 235 months, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug abuse treatment.
Derrick L. Baines – Kansas City, MO
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 27, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Tonya Barney – Ivins, UT
Offense: Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; District of Utah
Sentence: 204 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 10, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug abuse treatment.
David Barren – Pittsburgh, PA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine; conspiracy to structure financial transactions; concealment money laundering (31 counts); structuring (two counts); money laundering – avoid reporting requirements (six counts); promotion money laundering (2 counts); money laundering over $10,000 (seven counts); District of Maryland
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 5 years’ supervised release (August 11, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug abuse treatment.
Herman Barron, III – Brooklyn, NY
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack); Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 25, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Tony Barrow – New York, NY
Offense: Importation of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; District of Puerto Rico
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; 4 years’ supervised release (November 16, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Senaca Bartlett – Chicago, IL
Offense: Possess with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”); Western District of Wisconsin
Sentence: 210 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (November 29, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Christopher Bass – Orlando, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 50 grams of cocaine base; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (September 10, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months' imprisonment.
Damion Rurshe Bates – Kalamazoo, MI
Offense: Distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack cocaine); Western District of Michigan
Sentence: 210 months' imprisonment; 5 years' supervised release (February 22, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Todd Begley – Nashville, TN
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; Middle District of Tennessee
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (April 27, 1995)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Carolyn Ann Bell – Lawton, OK
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack); Western District of Oklahoma
Sentence: 262 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (May 21, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Curtis Bell – Miami, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; distribution of cocaine and aiding and abetting; Middle District of Alabama
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years' supervised release (May 22, 1995)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
cocaine; attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine (three counts); possession with intent to distribute cocaine (three counts); District of South Carolina
2. Supervised release violation; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 1. Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (December 18, 2008)
2. 33 months’ imprisonment (concurrent) (December 18, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 273 months' imprisonment.
Dorian Lee Benoit – Lake Charles, LA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine base and marijuana; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 300 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (April 30, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Christopher Bernard – Shreveport, LA
Offense: Distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 30, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Elaine Beston – Great Falls, MT
Offense: Conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute; District of Montana
Sentence: 192 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (July 16, 2008); amended to 180 months' imprisonment (July 20, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
James Zell Bishop – Bay Minette, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine; Southern District of Alabama
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 21, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Benjamin Blount – Oakdale, LA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 8, 1999)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Walter Bradberry – Mobile, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 28, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Alonzo F. Brooks – Asheville, NC
Offense: Possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 262 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (February 26, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Adrian R. Brown – Athens, TN
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 15 kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride; conspiracy to knowingly conduct and attempt to conduct unlawful financial transactions affecting interstate commerce; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (April 12, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Jerome Brown – Pittsburgh, PA
Offense: Distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Western District of Pennsylvania
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (December 11, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Rodney Rodriguez Brown – Atmore, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine; Southern District of Alabama
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 months’ supervised release (June 5, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Pamela Brownlee – Decatur, GA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute a detectable amount of cocaine base (three counts); Southern District of Florida
Sentence: 188 months' imprisonment; four years' supervised release (December 19, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment
Thomas Burton – Plain Dealing, LA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of firearms during a drug trafficking crime; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 300 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (May 17, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months' imprisonment.
Tiara Buskey – Pensacola, FL
Offense: Possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release; $500 fine (November 8, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Jeffrey Calhoun – Long Beach, CA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (two counts); Central District of California
Sentence: 264 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (September 8, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Willie Albert Cannon – Tampa, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts); possession of a firearm; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 17, 1995); amended to 352 months’ imprisonment (June 12, 2001)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Jose Carmona – Philadelphia, PA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute heroin; Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 10, 1993)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Ramiro Cervantes – Blountsville, AL
Offense: Attempting to possess with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine; Northern District of Alabama
Sentence: 324 months' imprisonment; 120 months' supervised release; $2,000 fine (January 23, 2003)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 235 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
John Dennis Chapman – Piedmont, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine; conspiring to launder monetary instruments; Northern District of Georgia
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (March 4, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 168 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Raul Chavez – San Jose, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine; Eastern District of California
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; 60 months' supervised release (December 18, 2000)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months' imprisonment.
Artrone Cheatham – Montgomery, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; Middle District of Alabama
Sentence: 235 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (September 23, 2003)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Calvin Burkett Clark – Jefferson, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 13, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 168 months’ imprisonment.
Kenneth Clark – Calumet City, IL
Offense: Possession of cocaine base (crack) with the intent to distribute; Central District of Illinois
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 19, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 120 months’ imprisonment.
Jeffrey Glynn Coleman – Milwaukee, WI
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute in excess of five kilograms of cocaine; Eastern District of Wisconsin
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (October 2, 2006); amend to 240 months' imprisonment (December 17, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Cassandra Collins – Jefferson, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (April 4, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Ladarius Venice Cook – Florissant, MO
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base (crack); felon in possession of a firearm; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (June 28, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 200 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Cortez Cooper – Harvey, IL
Offense: 1. Possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Northern District of Illinois
2. Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; use of a telephone in the commission of a felony drug trafficking offense (two counts); possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Northern District of Illinois
Sentence: 1. 120 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (January 29, 2004)
2. 240 months’ imprisonment (concurrent); eight years’ supervised release; $1,000 fine (August 2, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Trenton A. Copeland – Pensacola, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 23, 2012)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 168 months’ imprisonment.
John Timothy Cotton – Houston, TX
Offense: Continuing Criminal Enterprise; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (January 26, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment.
Johnnie L. Cotton – Venice, IL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; felon in possession of a firearm; Southern District of Illinois
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $900 fine (August 15, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Timothy G. Craig – Greenville, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 292 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (March 8, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Japlin Cureton – Charlotte, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; 8 years’ supervised release (September 29, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Steven Jermonte Cureton – Huntersville, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, cocaine, marijuana, and 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine a/k/a ecstasy; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (December 11, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Keith Adell Dancer – Waco, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine; Western District of Texas
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $3,000 fine (February 16, 1995)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment.
Timothy Lashaun Dandridge – Midfield, AL
Offense: Unlawful distribution of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base (three counts); unlawful possession with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; unlawful possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Alabama
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; 60 months’ supervised release (January 9, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Terrance H. Darby – Newark, NJ
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime; possession of a weapon by a convicted felon; District of New Jersey
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; four years' supervised release (April 3, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Emanuel Jurel Davidson – Columbus, OH
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of cocaine base; Southern District of Ohio
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release; $2,000 fine (June 2, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Shondu Maurice Dawson – Raleigh, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack) and more than 500 grams of cocaine; carried a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possess said firearm in furtherance of such drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: 241 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (April 12, 2005); amended to 214 months' imprisonment (September 19, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Gary Allen Day – West Monroe, LA
Offense: Possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (October 11, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Maria Aide Delgado – Weslaco, TX
Offense: 1. Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, 218.5 kilograms of marijuana (two counts); Southern District of Texas
2. Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 1. 100 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release; $15,000 fine (October 10, 2007)
2. 240 months’ imprisonment (consecutive); 10 years’ supervised release (April 19, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence for conviction imposed in the Western District of Louisiana commuted to 110 months and unpaid balance of $15,000 fine imposed in the Southern District of Texas remitted when her sentence expires.
Damon Andre Dill – Chester, PA
Offense: Felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Sentence: 322 months’ imprisonment; six years’ supervised release (September 5, 2003)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Qustion Dingle – Okeechobee, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a quantity of crack cocaine; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: 216 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release; $1,000 fine (May 1, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019 and unpaid balance of the $1,000 fine remitted when his sentence expires, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Michael A. Douglas, Jr. – Lynchburg, VA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Southern District of Indiana
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $1500 fine (April 25, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Dezmend Rashawn Doweary – Norfolk, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (November 22, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Lourdes Castro Duenas – Mangilao, Guam
Offense: Criminal conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine hydrochloride (ICE); possession of methamphetamine hydrochloride with intent to distribute; District of Guam
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (December 2, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug abuse treatment.
Alton J. Easley – Kansas City, KS
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of crack cocaine; conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (May 2, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Keith Edgerson – Ann Arbor, MI
Offense: Felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a stolen firearm; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Michigan
Sentence: 294 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release (June 6, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Christopher Demetrius Elliott – Brandon, FL
Offense: Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon; possession of marijuana; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 14, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Carla Grace Engler – Dubuque, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) within 1,000 feet of a protected location; attempting to manufacture five grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) within 1,000 feet of a protected location (two counts); possession of red phosphorus knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine; failure to appear on pretrial release; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: 361 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (December 12, 2006); amended to 325 months’ imprisonment (March 21, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 200 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Michael Delevan Engles – Tulsa, OK
Offense: Felon in possession of a firearm (two counts); possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, and sentencing enhancement; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Oklahoma
Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; six years’ supervised release (February 24, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 270 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Travis J. Every – Harvey, LA
Offense: Distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base (2 counts); distribution of less than 500 grams of cocaine hydrochloride; distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base; conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Louisiana
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (September 3, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 175 months’ imprisonment.
Paul S. Fields – Emmalena, KY
Offense: Manufacture of over 100 marijuana plants; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 188 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (July 26, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 10 years’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Linda Finch –Anniston, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack); possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack); Northern District of Alabama
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (April 1, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Carroll James Flowers – Galena, KS
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture or distribute more than one kilogram of methamphetamine; District of Kansas
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (June 19, 2002)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Chauncey Floyd – Spartanburg, SC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and cocaine; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (August 26, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Lance Foster – Gary, IN
Offense: Distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine/aiding and abetting; Northern District of Indiana
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 15, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, and conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Stacy Dean Foster- Bethel, OK
Offense: Attempt to manufacture methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; establishment of manufacturing operations; Eastern District of Oklahoma
Sentence: 352 months’ imprisonment; 4 years’ supervised release (June 13, 2006); amended to 295 months’ imprisonment (August 17, 2016)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Robert L. Franklin – Montgomery, AL
Offense: Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise; possession with intent to distribute cocaine and aiding and abetting; distribution of cocaine base (2 counts); distribution of cocaine; carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking charge; Middle District of Alabama
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (May 22, 1995)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months' imprisonment
James Anthony Frink – Chadbourn, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack); distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base (crack) and aiding and abetting (three counts); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: 187 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release; $9,050 fine (January 7, 2008); amended to 180 months’ imprisonment (December 16, 2014)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017 and unpaid balance of the $9,050 fine remitted.
Mike Fulton – Winterville, GA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of firearm by convicted felon; Middle District of Georgia
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 5 years’ supervised release (January 10, 2001) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Melvin Fudge – Grand Rapids, MI
Offense: Committing a drug trafficking offense within 1,000 feet of a school; Western District of Michigan
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $10,000 fine (October 28, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019 and unpaid balance of the $10,000 fine remitted when his sentence expires, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Jose Luis Garcia – Gretna, LA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine (five counts); Eastern District of Louisiana
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release; $25,000 fine (March 20, 1996)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 300 months' imprisonment and unpaid balance of $25,000 fine remitted when his sentence expires, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Juan Garcia – Tyler, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana; aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute marijuana; witness tampering; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 300 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (September 28, 1999)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Raymond Garcia – Las Vegas, NV
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; District of Nevada
Sentence: 293 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (November 13, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Rene Garcia, Jr. – Independence, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Western District of Missouri
Sentence: 327 months' imprisonment, five years' supervised release, $261,600 fine (September 3, 1999)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017 and unpaid balance of $261,600 fine remitted.
Antonio Maurice Gardner – Temple, TX
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute at least five grams of “crack” cocaine, a Schedule II narcotic drug controlled substance, within 1,000 feet of a public school; aiding and abetting; Western District of Texas
Sentence: 235 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (August 4, 2006); $1,000 fine
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Reginald Stern Gardner – Mason City, IA
Offense: 1. Possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of cocaine base, cocaine, and marijuana after having previously been convicted of two felony drug offenses; Northern District of Iowa
2. Escape from custody; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: 1. 360 months' imprisonment (consecutive); eight years' supervised release (May 12, 2004)
2. 24 months' imprisonment (May 12, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 234 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Gregory A. Garton – Casper, WY
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and aiding and abetting; distribution of methamphetamine; felon in possession of a firearm; felon in possession of ammunition; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime (three counts); District of Wyoming
Sentence: 900 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $2,200 fine (April 9, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment and unpaid balance of $2,200 fine remitted when his sentence expires, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Dustin Gary – Philadelphia, PA
Offense: 1. Criminal conspiracy; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base
(crack); felon in possession of a firearm; Eastern District of Pennsylvania
2. Possession of a prohibited object (marijuana) while in prison; District of New Jersey
Sentence 1. 292 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release, $1,500 fine
(September 12, 2002); amended to 240 months’ imprisonment (July 8,
2008)
2. Six months’ imprisonment (consecutive) (October 17, 2011)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment
Robert Raymond Garza – Harlingen, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 262 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (January 30, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months' imprisonment.
Tavaris Gay – Miami, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: 200 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $5,000 fine (June 18, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 130 months’ imprisonment, and unpaid balance of $5,000 fine remitted when his sentence expires, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Eric German – Haughton, LA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; conspiracy to commit money laundering; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: Life imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (December 15, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 324 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Daniel Gilliam – Columbia, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 222 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (March 28, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment
Troy Gilmore ─ Eutawville, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine and cocaine base; conspiracy to launder money; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (September 10, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Terry Glasscock – Lebanon, KY
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine; using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime or possessing a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of such crime; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 425 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (September 17, 1999)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 295 months' imprisonment.
Earl Glenn, Jr. – Chester, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of a quantity of cocaine and 280 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of crack cocaine; District of South Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 20, 2012)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 235 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Waymon Audra Goodley – Hillsboro, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine; use of a communication facility to facilitate the commission of a drug felony (two counts); Eastern District of Texas
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (April 19, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017
William Goodwill ─ Decatur, IL
Offense: Distribution of fifty or more grams of cocaine base; Central District of Illinois
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 20, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Robby Joe Goram –Eight Mile, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture methamphetamine; Southern District of Alabama
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 12, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 140 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
William Leonardo Graham – Essex, MD
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; District of Maryland
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (November 6, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 300 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment
Wilbert Decosta Greaves – Jacksonville, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base; Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 60 months’ supervised release; $17,100 fine (January 4, 1996)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Charles Lee Green – Ville Platte, LA
Offense: Distribution of cocaine base (crack); Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (March 23, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Samuel Green – Wilmington, DE
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; felon in possession of firearms; District of Delaware
Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (July 18, 1994); amended to 360 months’ imprisonment (June 12, 1997)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Vaughn Greene – Brooklyn, NY
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine and at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana; Northern District of Georgia
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 1, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire May 19, 2017.
Stuart John Greger – Glennville, GA
Offense: Distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack); Southern District of Georgia
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (December 7, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Tyrone Grimes – Inwood, NY
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana within 1,000 feet of a public elementary school; engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, convicted felon in possession of a gun; Eastern District of New York;
Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (October 29, 1999)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment.
Ricky Lee Groves – Smithfield, NC
Offense: Continuing criminal enterprise; use of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting; trading food stamps for cocaine base and aiding and abetting (five counts); Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment plus 60 months' imprisonment, five years' supervised release (February 16, 1995)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment.
Thaddeas Kulani Thomas Hall – Waipahu, HI
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; District of Hawaii
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (June 16, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Forrest Hamm – Miami, FL
Offense: 1. Possession of contraband (marijuana) in a federal correctional
institution; District of New Jersey
2. Possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine; Middle District of Georgia
3. Supervised release violation; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: 1. Two months' imprisonment (consecutive) (September 3, 2013)
2. 262 months' imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 5, 2004)
3. 30 months’ imprisonment (consecutive) (June 3, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Eddie Harley – Baltimore, MD
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute a mixture containing cocaine, heroin, and cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing cocaine; possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing heroin; District of Maryland
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (January 21, 2003)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Monica Haro – Mission, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to commit money laundering; Western District of Texas
Sentence: 188 months' imprisonment; three years' supervised release; $1,000 fine (November 12, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Anthony T. Harris – Murfreesboro, TN
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine and some quantity of marijuana; distribution of 50 grams of crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of a protected area; Middle District of Tennessee
Sentence: 262 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (November 8, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Antone C. Harris – Indianapolis, IN
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; Southern District of Indiana
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment’ 10 years’ supervised release (September 8, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Brandon W. Harris – Mt. Vernon, IL
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine; Southern District of Illinois
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release; $200 fine (May 3, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Clenneth J. Harris – Chattanooga, TN
Offense: Possession of 50 grams or more of cocaine base for distribution; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 6, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Efrem Zemblish Harris – Tulsa, OK
Offense: Conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine in excess of five kilograms, cocaine base in excess of 50 grams, and a quantity of marijuana, and sentencing enhancement; conspiracy to use telecommunication facilities to commit or facilitate acts constituting a felony and sentencing enhancement; conspiracy to establish or maintain a location for the purpose of storing or distributing controlled substances and sentencing enhancement; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; interstate travel in aid of racketeering; Northern District of Oklahoma
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release; $5,000 fine (June 5, 2003)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months' imprisonment and unpaid balance of $5,000 fine remitted when his sentence expires.
Eric Harris – Philadelphia, PA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and marijuana; distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (four counts); distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; possession of cocaine and cocaine base with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school; Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 12 years' supervised release; $2,500 fine (January 19, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019 and unpaid balance of $2,500 fine remitted when his sentence expires, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Linwood Claude Harris, Jr. – Monroe, GA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine; Northern District of Georgia
Sentence: 250 months' imprisonment; 20 years' supervised release; $2,000 fine (February 10, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment.
Shaun Kevin Harris – Sutton, WV
Offense: Cocaine conspiracy; aiding and abetting distribution of crack cocaine (two counts); distribution of crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; Northern District of West Virginia
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release; $5,000 fine (January 30, 2002)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Tyrone A. Harris – Spotsylvania, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; 60 months’ supervised release (August 15, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Charles Harrison – Charlotte, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute one kilogram or more of heroin; District of Columbia
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $25,000 fine (July 21, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017 and unpaid balance of $25,000 fine remitted.
Marlon R. Harrison – Savannah, GA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Southern District of Georgia
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (November 26, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Todd Lowell G. Haworth – Kina, ID
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; District of Idaho
Sentence: 276 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release; $2,000 fine (December 21, 2005); amended to 235 months' imprisonment (October 13, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Andre Haynes – Miami, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute at least 50 grams of cocaine base; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: 202 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (January 25, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 16, 2017.
Gregory Hearn – Kilgore, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (April 2, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment
Antonio Jeron Hemphill – Rock Hill, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 262 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (March 14, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment
Michael Henderson – Newark, NJ
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 262 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (December 24, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Walter Henry, III – Capitol Heights, MD
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin; aiding and abetting; unlawful possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin (two counts); District of Columbia
Sentence: Life imprisonment; four years’ supervised release (March 12, 2001)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Lejandra Deshawn Herman – Knoxville, TN
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 300 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (May 2, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Domingo Hernandez – Ledgewood, NJ
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute controlled substance; unlawful transport of firearms; District of New Jersey
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (October 2, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment.
Jackie Hernandez – Park Forest, IL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin; knowingly and intentionally used telephone in furtherance of a drug offense; Northern District of Indiana
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (October 23, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Keith Angelo Hernandez – Atlanta, GA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of a firearm during commission of a crime; Northern District of Georgia
Sentence: 322 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (January 25, 1996)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Ramiro Hernandez – Edinburg, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance; Eastern District of Wisconsin
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release; $8,400 restitution (March 13, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Hassan Hills – Pensacola, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 50 grams or more of cocaine base, and marijuana; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release; $1,500 fine (December 19, 2001)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Eric Hinton – Ypsilanti, MI
Offense: Distribution of a controlled substance (2 counts); Eastern District of Michigan
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 5 years’ supervised release (February 9, 1999)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Brian Douglas Hoggard – Coatesville, PA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack); distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack) and aiding and abetting (2 counts); Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Sentence: 204 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release; $3,000 fine (March 27, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 19, 2018 and unpaid balance of the $5,000 fine remitted when his sentence expires.
Lawrence Honore – New Orleans, LA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack); Eastern District of Louisiana
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (August 28, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Charles Allen House – Garden Grove, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (May 17, 1996)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment
Daniel Alfonso Jacobo – Cedar Rapids, IA
Offense: Possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture after a conviction for felony drug offense; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (May 10, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment
Walter Jenkins – Colorado Springs, CO
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of cocaine base and aiding and abetting; possession of firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; possession of firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime (second and subsequent conviction); District of Colorado
Sentence: 720 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (August 8, 2001)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 322 months' imprisonment
Antwaine Tacoma Johnson – Littleton, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack); Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: 183 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (December 11, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Dempsey Johnson – Kansas City, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute MDMA and cocaine base; Western District of Missouri
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (September 10, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 162 months’ imprisonment.
Karmell Demetrius Johnson – Mobile, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine; use, carry, or possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Southern District of Alabama
Sentence: Life plus 60 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (May 14, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Thomas Johnson – Miami, FL
Offense: Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute a detectable amount of cocaine powder; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment, eight years' supervised release (September 29, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Antonio D. Jones – Nashville, TN
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of firearms in relation to a drug trafficking offense; felon in possession of firearms; Middle District of Tennessee
Sentence: Life plus five years' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (November 15, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Kiwanis Miyo Jones – Clayton, AL
Offense: Controlled substance - sell, distribute, or dispense (4 counts); violent crime/drugs/guns; unlawful transport of firearms; Middle District of Alabama
Sentence: Life plus 60 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (May 16, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 170 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Ryan K. Jones – Ste. Genevieve, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; possess a listed chemical used to manufacture methamphetamine; Western District of Wisconsin
Sentence: 328 months’ imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (December 23, 2003); amended to 240 months’ imprisonment (May 18, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Wayne Jordan – Morrisville, PA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; distribution of methamphetamine; Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (April 1, 1998); amended to 324 months' imprisonment (January 29, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Bobby Dale Kelley – Coweta, OK
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; Northern District of Oklahoma
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $5,000 fine (March 17, 2005) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Kenneth Earl Kelley – Mossy Head, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (December 23, 2003)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Corey Kelly – Camden, NJ
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five grams of crack cocaine; distribution of crack cocaine (two counts); District of New Jersey
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 4 years’ supervised release; $2,000 fine (September 5, 2000)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
John Kelly – Monroe, LA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base with prior narcotics convictions; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 12, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Alfred William Kemfort – Maui, HI
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; District of Hawaii
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (March 17, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Douglas Kennedy – Hillside, NJ
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute narcotics; narcotics possession (three counts); possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime (two counts) possession of a weapon by a convicted felon (two counts); District of New Jersey
Sentence: 180 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (August 21, 2008); amended to 480 months’ imprisonment (July 2, 2013)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Robert Ketchledge – Delano, PA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: 195 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (August 10, 2007); amended to 180 months' imprisonment (April 4, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Alonzo King – Kansas City, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine following a prior felony drug conviction; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (August 26, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Moses King – North Charleston, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; District of South Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 26, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Wendell Dean Kopp – Billings, MT
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking offense (two counts); District of Montana
Sentence: Life plus five years’ imprisonment (October 21, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Allan Aquino Lafuente – Kapolei, HI
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; distribution of five or more grams of methamphetamine (two counts); distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; District of Hawaii
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $1,000 fine (September 14, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months’ imprisonment, and unpaid balance of $1,000 fine remitted when his sentence expires.
Dennis Chan Lai – San Francisco, CA
Offense: Continuing criminal enterprise; possession with intent to distribute, aiding and abetting (31 counts); possession of illegal weapon (two counts); possession of weapon without serial numbers; Northern District of California
Sentence: Life plus 10 years’ imprisonment; five years’ parole (July 8, 1988)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Linnard O. Lawson – New Brighton, PA
Offense: 1. Felon in possession of a firearm; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 5 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, commonly known as crack; Western District of Pennsylvania
2. Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Ohio
Sentence: 1. 120 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (August 26, 2009)
2. Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $5,000 fine (October 6, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment and unpaid balance of $5,000 fine remitted when his sentence expires.
Wendell Layne – Soddy Daisy, TN
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride; attempt to possess with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride; aiding and abetting; distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; obstruction of justice; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (January 3, 1997)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
James Marcus LeBlanc – Lake Charles, LA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base (three counts); Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 120 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (January 14, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Tarry Cordell London – Mansfield, LA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of a firearm in relation to drug trafficking; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 180 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (November 7, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Gilbert Lopez – Fayetteville, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; distribution of cocaine and aiding and abetting; conspiracy to launder drug proceeds; laundering of monetary instruments and aiding and abetting (14 counts); Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years' supervised release (September 13, 1993)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months' imprisonment
James Keith Loveless – Pixley, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; District of Nebraska
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (June 30, 1997); amended to 292 months' imprisonment (December 17, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017
James Lynch – Greenville, IN
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine (two counts); possession with intent to distribute in excess of five grams of methamphetamine; Southern District of Indiana
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (October 20, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Michael Anthony Mahan – Flint, MI
Offense: Distribution of an unspecified quantity of cocaine base (2 counts); possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine; Western District of Michigan
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release; $5,000 fine (May 9, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017, and unpaid balance of the $5,000 fine remitted
Larry Steven Malone – Bend, OR
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine; manufacture methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; felon in possession of a firearm; District of Oregon
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years' supervised release (July 3, 1995); amended to 360 months' imprisonment (October 5, 2016)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Kenio Marshall – Snellville, GA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (January 11, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Crystal Dawn Mattern – Dilworth, MN
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute a controlled substance; District of North Dakota
Sentence: 228 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (May 5, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Valencia K. Matthews – Centralia, IL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine; distribution of less than five grams of crack cocaine; Southern District of Illinois
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $400 fine (June 28, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Johnny Ray McAtee – Dubuque, IA
Offense: Attempt to manufacture and aid and abet the manufacturing of 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine (pure) after being convicted of one or more felony drug offenses; possession of pseudoephedrine, knowing the pseudoephedrine would be used to manufacture methamphetamine; possession of red phosphorous, knowing the red phosphorous would be used to manufacture methamphetamine; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (March 7, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Joseph McBride – Trenton, NJ
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine; carrying or possessing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 300 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (July 12, 2002)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
John McCallum – Spring Valley, NY
Offense: Narcotics conspiracy; distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts); Southern District of New York
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (January 9, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
John McCauley – Chicago, IL
Offense: Distribution of 4.41 grams of cocaine after having been previously convicted of a felony drug offense; distribution and aid and abet the distribution of 3.61 grams of cocaine base and .76 grams of cocaine after having been previously convicted of a felony drug offense; distribution and aid and abet the distribution of .51 grams of cocaine base after having been previously convicted of a felony drug offense; distribution and aid and abet the distribution of 19.17 grams of cocaine base after having been previously convicted of a felony drug offense; failure to appear; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: 366 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release; $2,150 restitution (April 2, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
James McCloud – Rochester, NY
Offense: Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of cocaine base; felon in possession of a firearm; Western District of New York
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release; $1,500 fine (June 20, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019 and unpaid balance of $1,500 fine remitted when his sentence expires, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Jeffrey Preston McClung – Harrisonburg, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute marijuana; distribution of marijuana; carry a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense; money laundering; Western District of Virginia
Sentence: 410 months' imprisonment; 48 months' supervised release (July 10, 1998); amended to 387 months' imprisonment (March 23, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
John McCray, Sr. – East Saint Louis, IL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine base; distribution of heroin and cocaine base; Southern District of Illinois
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $750 fine (March 6, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
James McDade – Shreveport, LA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; conspiracy to commit laundering of monetary instruments; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 10, 2001)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment.
Frederick McGary – Hammond, LA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Louisiana
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (February 20, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Martin McGee – Beersheba Springs, TN
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 202 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (November 9, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Ezekial McLain – Albany, NY
Offense: Conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Northern District of New York
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (November 6, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Cartell Alexander McLemore – Milwaukee, WI
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; being a felon in possession of a firearm; being a felon in possession of ammunition; Eastern District of Wisconsin
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (October 26, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017
Randy McMahan – Wellford, SC
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; District of South Carolina
Sentence: Life plus 120 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (April 18, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment.
Recco Salaves Meeks – Shelby, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 230 months and six days’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (September 26, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Deone Antonio Melvin – Upper Marlboro, MD
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; money laundering conspiracy; distribution of cocaine; possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking (2 counts); felon in possession of a firearm; District of Maryland
Sentence: 540 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (September 26, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months' imprisonment.
Luis Marin Mendoza-Esquivel – Riverside, CA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute, distribution, and aiding and abetting the distribution of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture following a prior felony drug conviction; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: 290 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (December 13, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Wayne Merrell – Dunlap, TN
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 15, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Richard Glen Milburn – Limestone, TN
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana; conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; attempt to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense (two counts); attempt to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana; attempt to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of an unregistered short barreled firearm; possessing contraband in prison; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 480 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (April 19, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Kristi Miller – Santa Maria, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual or 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 6, 2011)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Timothy Wayne Miller – London, KY
Offense: 1. Conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (4 counts); possession with intent to distribute oxycodone; carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Kentucky
2. Knowingly failed to appear; Eastern District of Kentucky
Sentence: 1. 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 8, 2004)
2. 120 months’ imprisonment (concurrent); three years’ supervised release (July 8, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Robert W. Mims – Pensacola, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release; $500 fine (May 21, 2002)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Ervin Mincey – Swainsboro, GA
Offense: Distribution of 27.72 grams of cocaine base; Southern District of Georgia
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (January 17, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 210 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
James Edward Mitchell – Oxnard, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; District of Montana
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (March 31, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Lewis Lynn Mitchell – Medical Lake, WA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; District of Montana
Sentence: 288 months’ imprisonment, eight years’ supervised release (August 2, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Terry Mitchell – Miami, FL
Offense: Continuing criminal enterprise; distribution of cocaine and aiding and abetting (two counts); carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Middle District of Alabama
Sentence: Life plus 60 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (May 22, 1995)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Emmett Alvin Monson – Rosedale, NY
Offense: Conspiracy: possess with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride and heroin; possess with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride (two counts); possess with intent to distribute heroin (four counts); Middle District of North Carolina
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 8 years’ supervised release (September 20, 1993)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Richard Ruiz Montes ─ Escalon, CA
Offense: Conducting a continuing criminal enterprise; manufacture of marijuana and aiding and abetting; possession with intent to distribute marijuana and aiding and abetting; possession with intent to distribute marijuana (two counts); Eastern District of California
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 60 months’ supervised release (November 21, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence to expire on May 19, 2017.
Anthony Lawayne Moon – Knoxville, TN
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (September 28, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Larry D. Moon ─ Louisville, KY
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (2 counts); Western District of Kentucky
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (August 21, 1996); amended
to 360 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (September 24, 1999)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Sentra Moore – Montgomery, AL
Offense: Aiding and abetting possession to distribute cocaine hydrochloride; aiding and abetting possession to distribute 50 or more grams of cocaine base; aiding and abetting firearm/drug trafficking; Middle District of Alabama
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (October 1, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Steven Rayford Moore – Sherman, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Texas
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release; $5,000 fine (June 26, 2001)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months' imprisonment and unpaid balance of the $5,000 fine remitted.
Jeremy Jason Morefield – Shreveport, LA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (July 13, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Chico Untras Morgan – Opelika, AL
Offense: Distribution of a controlled substance (cocaine base); Middle District of Alabama
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 21, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, and conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Fred Lenard Morrison – Valdese, NC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine; simple possession of cocaine base; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 320 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (December 13, 1996)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
David Andrew Mortensen – Salt Lake City, UT
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine; District of Utah
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 60 months' supervised release (September 18, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Cory D. Mosby – Rock Island, IL
Offense: Possession of cocaine base (crack) with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; felon in possession of firearms; Central District of Illinois
Sentence: 322 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release; $2,500 fine (August 17, 2007); amended to 300 months’ imprisonment (March 10, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 195 months’ imprisonment and unpaid balance of $2,500 fine remitted when his sentence expires.
Leo Muhammad – Compton, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (November 21, 2005); amended to 292 months’ imprisonment (January 29, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment.
Saeed Abdul Muhammad – Spotsylvania, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possess with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: Life imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (August 22, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 210 months' imprisonment
Dottie Nixon – Lincolnton, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute a quantity of cocaine and cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a school; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; six years' supervised release (August 13, 2001); amended to 324 months' imprisonment (November 19, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Alonzo Norman, Jr. – Springfield, LA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and aiding and abetting; distribution of cocaine base; Eastern District of Louisiana
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 18, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Deon Christopher Nowell – Charleston, SC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 10, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Charles Lee Parker – Marietta, GA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; Southern District of Mississippi
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (January 25, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months' imprisonment.
William Howard Penn, Jr. – Morgan City, LA
Offense: Narcotics, sell distribute or dispense, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute; narcotics – sell, distribute or dispense, possession with intent to distribute; racketeering, narcotics – interstate travel in aid of illegal activity; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (November 10, 1997)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Christopher Clayton Pfaff – Ottumwa, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 26, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Hope Aree Pinkerton – Alta, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture and manufacture five grams or more of methamphetamine actual after having been convicted of a prior felony drug offense; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (August 5, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment
Larry Blane Pittman – San Diego, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture of methamphetamine; Western District of Kentucky
Sentence: 262 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (December 20, 2001)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Max Orvel Plumlee – Newport News, VA
Offense: Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise; distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine (eight counts); use of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime (two counts); distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts); renting, leasing, and making premises available for storing and distributing cocaine; conspiracy; money laundering (five counts); engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity (four counts); Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: Life imprisonment plus 300 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (July 18, 1994)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Charles Edward Price – Vicksburg, MS
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; Southern District of Mississippi
Sentence: 292 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $1,500 fine (June 3, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017 and unpaid balance of the $1,500 fine remitted.
Calvin Pritchett ─ Cleveland, OH
Offense: Possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Ohio
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 30, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Tony Roger Pullings – Ocala, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base; distribution of cocaine (three counts); Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 14, 1999)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Dennis Ragland – Lincoln, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances; distribution and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances; felon in possession of a firearm; use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Alabama
Sentence: 330 months’ imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (November 29, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 210 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Sergio Ramirez – Des Moines, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; distribute methamphetamine; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 22, 2003)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 18, 2017.
Alex Randell – Tallahassee, FL
Offense: Possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 23, 1999)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment
Ernest Reagan ─ Knoxville, TN
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride; felon in possession of firearms; possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 16, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 168 months’ imprisonment, conditioned on upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Johnnie C. Reed – Spartanburg, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (February 7, 1997)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment
Kristen Reed ─ Winchester, TN
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 27, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Anthony Jaron Richardson – Charlotte, NC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 300 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (October 16, 2002)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Cory D. Rigmaiden – Fresno, TX
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 300 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (August 18, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Robert James Riley – Clackamas, OR
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute LSD; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: Life imprisonment (November 4, 1993)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2018.
Jerry K. Roberson – St. Petersburg, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (December 15, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Samuel Roberts – Kinston, NC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts), simple possession of cocaine base; Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (August 31, 1998)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Charles Bernard Robinson – Raleigh, NC
Offense: Possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: 322 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (February 5, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Gerald Robinson – Overland, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine; possession of pseudoephedrine knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine (two counts); Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 220 months’ imprisonment; two years’ supervised release (December 14, 2006); amended to 177 months’ imprisonment (April 27, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Glenn Vincent Robinson – Stilwell, OK
Offense: Attempt to manufacture methamphetamine (two counts); possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense (two counts); Eastern District of Oklahoma
Sentence: 555 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (April 27, 2004); amended to 480 months’ imprisonment (July 21, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
John Robinson – Charlotte, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (April 1, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 200 months’ imprisonment.
Joseph E. Robinson – Tallulah, LA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base with prior narcotics conviction; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base with prior narcotics conviction (seven counts); Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 6, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Luther Lee Robinson – Greensboro, NC
Offense: Conspiracy: distributed cocaine base (crack); Middle District of North Carolina
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (August 24, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
William Everett Robinson – Crestview, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; convicted felon in possession of a firearm/armed career criminal; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 10, 1999)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 18, 2017, conditioned upon enrollment in non-residential drug treatment (NRDAP).
Juan Rodriguez ─ Edinburg, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine; Eastern District of New York
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 18, 2000)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Germaine Roebuck ─ Champaign, IL
Offense: Distribution of five or more grams of cocaine base (crack); Central District of Illinois
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (November 21, 2003)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Marvin G. Roland – Wauchula, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: 322 months’ imprisonment; 5 years’ supervised release; $10,000 fine (July 12, 1999)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017 and unpaid balance of $10,000 fine remitted.
Randolph Rolle ─ Miami, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack cocaine), 500 grams or more of cocaine and 100 grams or more of heroin; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: 292 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 5, 2007); amended to 262 months’ imprisonment (December 31, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 200 months, conditioned on enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Jerrick Lamont Rorie – Marshville, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base and five kilograms or more of cocaine; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 264 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (October 27, 2009); amended to 240 months’ imprisonment (July 2, 2012)
Commutation grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 168 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Charlie Lee Ross, Jr. – Houston, Texas
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (six counts); Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $20,000 fine (January 25, 2001)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019 and unpaid balance of $20,000 fine remitted when his sentence expires, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Ted Ross – Dallas, TX
Offense: Conspiracy; money laundering; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years' supervised release (February 16, 1994)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Timnah Rudisill – Hendersonville, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 24, 2002)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Tyrone Sain – Memphis, TN
Offense: 1. Attempt to possess with intent to distribute approximately three kilograms of cocaine, a controlled substance; Western District of Tennessee
2. Possession of a controlled object, marijuana, in a federal correctional institution; Western District of Tennessee
Sentence: 1. 360 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (January 27, 1999)
2. Two months’ imprisonment (consecutive) (October 4, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Both prison sentences commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Dyron K. Sampson – Arcadia, LA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (April 9, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Jose Alfredo Sanchez, Jr. ─ Grafton, ND
Offense: Continuing criminal enterprise; District of North Dakota
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release (March 29, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 210 months’ imprisonment.
Helen Evette Sanders – Altamont, TN
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 300 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (August 9, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Ramon A. Santos – Providence, RI
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: 260 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release; $25,000 fine (March 24, 2005); amended to 211 months' imprisonment (February 11, 2016)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months' imprisonment and unpaid balance of the $25,000 fine remitted.
David M. Scates ─ Richmond, VA
Offense: Possession of cocaine, aiding and abetting; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aiding and abetting; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 293 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (April 23, 1999)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Joseph Schwartz – Philadelphia, PA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine; Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release; $500 fine (November 1, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Aaron A. Scott – Petersburg, VA
Offense: Distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a public school; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 188 months’ imprisonment; six years’ supervised release (April 21, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 18, 2017.
Kenneth E. Scott ─ Scott City, MO
Offense: Possession of pseudoephedrine knowing it will be used to manufacture methamphetamine; felon in possession of a firearm; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 296 months’ imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (December 2, 2003); amended to 237 months’ imprisonment (March 17, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Stephen Scott – Worcester, MA
Offense: Possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute; unlawful possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number; felon in possession of a firearm; District of Massachusetts
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (February 8, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Timothy Wayne Seabury- Satsuma, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; attempt to manufacture methamphetamine; Southern District of Alabama
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 18, 2011)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 235 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Burnette Trione Shackleford ─ Georgetown, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base and 5 kilograms or more of powder cocaine; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 264 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (August 14, 2007); amended to 212 months’ imprisonment (August 11, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Duane Sheffield – Augusta, GA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 8 years’ supervised release (June 18, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 151 months, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug abuse treatment.
Michael William Shranklen – Ankeny, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (October 30, 2003)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 17, 2017.
Jeremy Simmons – Chicago, IL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (mixture) and less than 500 grams of cocaine (mixture); distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base (mixture) (four counts); Southern District of Indiana
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 16, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to 360 months’ imprisonment.
Damenion Sims – Houston, TX
Offense: Possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Louisiana
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (February 20, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment
Willie Small – Denver, CO
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 or more grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; distribution and possession with intent to distribute 13.382 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; distribution and possession with intent to distribute 13.323 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; distribution and possession with intent to distribute 26.295 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; distribution and possession with intent to distribute 6.457 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; distribution and possession with intent to distribute 26.764 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; distribution and possession with intent to distribute 26.866 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; distribution and possession with intent to distribute 23.484 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; distribution and possession with intent to distribute 32.756 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; distribution and possession with intent to distribute 54.174 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; distribution and possession with intent to distribute 26.356 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; distribution and possession with intent to distribute 14 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting (two counts); distribution and possession with intent to distribute seven grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting (five counts); distribution and possession with intent to distribute 27 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; use of a communication facility to conspire to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, aiding and abetting (13 counts); distribution and possession with intent to distribute 3.5 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting (two counts); distribution and possession with intent to distribute 56 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; possession with intent to distribute .244 grams of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; possession with intent to distribute 175 grams or more of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; money laundering, aiding and abetting; District of Colorado
Sentence: Life imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (April 21, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 300 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Bernard Gary Smith, Jr. – Warsaw, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine and to distribute marijuana; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (November 7, 2003)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Felicia Smith – Shreveport, LA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: 292 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (December 15, 2005); amended to 188 months’ imprisonment (January 4, 2017)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
John Wayne Smith – Charlotte, NC
Offense: Possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 216 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release (March 22, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Lawrence Smith – Immokalee, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base, “crack cocaine”; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 235 months’ imprisonment; 4 years’ supervised release (January 22, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment.
Nathaniel Smith, Jr. – Eden, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base crack; Middle District of North Carolina
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 8, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Ronald Benjamin Smith – Demopolis, AL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking felony; Southern District of Alabama
Sentence: 300 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (January 11, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Teresa Smith – Baird, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: 309 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (August 24, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Anthony B. Southard – Youngstown, OH
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute approximately 100.3 grams of cocaine base; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Ohio
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 27, 2000)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Thaddeus A. Speed – Kankakee, Illinois
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack); distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack); possession of five grams of more of cocaine base (crack) with intent to distribute it; Central District of Illinois
Sentence: Life imprisonment (March 3, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 262 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Glen Alan Spicer – Dobson, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine; possessed firearms in commerce after felony conviction; Middle District of North Carolina
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (September 11, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Michael Stacey – Charlotte, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; 5 years’ supervised release (July 29, 2004) Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Jason L. Stewart – East Cleveland, OH
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of cocaine base; Northern District of West Virginia
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; 5 years’ supervised release (December 1, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Jubali Dushawn Stokes ─ Chicago, IL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute “crack” cocaine; Eastern District of Wisconsin
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; repayment of $2,010 of “buy money” as a condition of supervised release (March 4, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 120 months’ imprisonment and condition of supervised release requiring repayment of $2,010 of “buy money” is also commuted.
Jonathan L. Stout – Memphis, TN
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute over five grams of cocaine base; possession of over five grams of cocaine base with intent to distribute; possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; Western District of Tennessee
Sentence: 1,200 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release (December 14, 2004); amended to 300 months’ imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (August 22, 2008); amended to 292 months’ imprisonment (November 1, 2011)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months’ imprisonment.
Tyrone Sturdivant ─ Mason City, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base and to distribute cocaine salt; distribution of cocaine salt (two counts); Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: 348 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (October 26, 2006); amended to life imprisonment (May 3, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Jorge Luis Suarez-Maya – Cabo Rojo, PR
Offense: Possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possess and carry a revolver during the commission of a drug trafficking crime; District of Puerto Rico
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (November 22, 1993)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Raymond Roger Surratt, Jr. – Shelby, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (October 31, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 200 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Andre Rashad Sutton – Chattanooga, TN
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base and cocaine hydrochloride; possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 21, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Lambert Dorell Sweat – Manning, SC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a quantity of marijuana and cocaine; felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; six years’ supervised release (July 19, 2011)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Alan Sylvester – Jamaica, NY
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; District of Maryland
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 24, 2006); amended to 360 months’ imprisonment (August 3, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 260 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Jeffrey Tate – Chapel Hill, NC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (October 23, 1997)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Richard Len Taylor, Jr. – Deep Gap, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine; using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and aiding and abetting; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 322 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release, $10,142.86 restitution (August 9, 2005); amended to 300 months’ imprisonment (November 19, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Joshua John Terry – Chattanooga, TN
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; 5 years’ supervised release (March 20, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Charles Edward Thomas – Odessa, TX
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; Western District of Texas
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (November 30, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Elton F. Thomas – Ontario, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute in excess of 50 grams of cocaine base (“crack”); Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 5 years’ supervised release (February 11, 2000)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Benjamin C. Thompkins, Jr. ─ Amelia, VA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon; manufacture and possess with intent to distribute marijuana; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (February 6, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Anthony Dwayne Thompson – Los Angeles, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 19, 2004); amended to 240 months’ imprisonment (June 21, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Jerome Thompson – Kansas City, MO
Offense: Distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Western District of Missouri
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (November 20, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Wayne D. Thompson – Richmond, VA
Offense: Possess with intent to distribute cocaine base within one thousand feet of a school; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 300 months' imprisonment; 16 years' supervised release (December 10, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 220 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
William Thorne – Patterson, NJ
Offense: Distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of cocaine base; District of New Jersey
Sentence: 200 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release (June 28, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
James Mark Thornton ─ Knoxville, TN
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 327 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 10, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
William Tisdale – Greensboro, NC
Offense: Distributed cocaine base (crack); Middle District of North Carolina
Sentence: 262 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (March 28, 2000)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Jim L. Townsend – Memphis, TN
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and aiding and abetting in same; Western District of Tennessee
Sentence: Life imprisonment (October 23, 1992)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2018.
Brosarick Ernesto Trammell – Roanoke, Alabama
Offense: Distribution of (50) fifty grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base “crack”; Northern District of Alabama
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (March 24, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
James Tranmer – Hackensack, NJ
Offense: Conspiracy to import marijuana; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (August 3, 1994)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Melvin Tucker – Chicago, IL
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base and to distribute cocaine salt after a conviction for a felony drug offense; distribution and aiding and abetting the distribution of 12.39 grams of cocaine base after a conviction for a felony drug offense; distribution and aiding and abetting the distribution of 16.83 grams of cocaine base after a conviction for a felony drug offense; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 29, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
John Robinson Turner – Pensacola, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 420 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (June 23, 1993)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Antonio Luna Valdez, Jr. – Weslaco, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base and marihuana; Western District of Louisiana
Sentence: Life imprisonment (September 17, 2012)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 168 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Aldo Venegas – Pecos, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; Western District of Texas
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (December 11, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Donald LeRoy Wagaman – Glenwood, IA
Offense: Manufacture in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: 185 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release (February 22, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Bernard A. Walker – Knoxville, TN
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (November 25, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Yakez Walker ─ Deerfield Beach, FL
Offense: Distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (June 25, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 387 months' imprisonment.
Charles Ward – Martinsburg, WV
Offense: Aiding and abetting in the distribution of 28.7 grams of cocaine base; Northern District of West Virginia
Sentence: 200 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (September 28, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 151 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Jeffrey Ward – Memphis, TN
Offense: Possession and distribution of 57.9 grams cocaine base; possession and distribution of 70.2 grams cocaine base; Western District of Tennessee
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (July 2, 2004)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug abuse treatment.
Timmy Don Ware – Oklahoma City, OK
Offense: Participation in racketeering activities; conspiracy to participate in a criminal racketeering enterprise; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin; possession with intent to distribute heroin (three counts); use of telephone to facilitate a conspiracy; Western District of Oklahoma
Sentence: 33 years’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (September 29, 1988)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Dan Russell Watson – Mediapolis, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture at least 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release, $4,959 restitution (May 28, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019 and unpaid balance of the $4,959 restitution obligation remitted, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Raymond Allen Watts – Hyattsville, MD
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base commonly known as crack; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; District of Maryland
Sentence: 292 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (December 29, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 200 months’ imprisonment.
Harold Lindsey Webster – Des Moines, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute at least 50 grams of cocaine base; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 25, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Donald Welch ─ Trenton, NJ
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilograms of cocaine; carrying or possessing a firearm during and relation to a drug trafficking crime; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 12, 2002)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Derrick White – Schriever, LA
Offense: Distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Louisiana
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 9, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment.
Carlos Whitehead ─ St. Louis, MO
Offense: Manufacture and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of heroin; possession of cocaine; possession of marijuana; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (August 25, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Winston Wilkins – West Palm Beach, FL
Offense: Distribution of crack cocaine (2 counts); Southern District of Florida
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 5 years’ supervised release; $15,000 fine (January 23, 1998)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019 and unpaid balance of $15,000 fine remitted, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug abuse treatment.
Glenn Williams – Raleigh, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack); Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: 480 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $17,050 fine (March 18, 1996)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Harry David Williams – Oklahoma City, OK
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; maintaining a residence to facilitate the distribution of methamphetamine, aiding and abetting; Western District of Oklahoma
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; six years’ supervised release (November 1, 2000)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Maurice Victor Williams – Oxon Hill, MD
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of "crack" cocaine; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 262 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (August 31, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months' imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Robert Lee Williams, III – High Point, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine hydrochloride; Middle District of North Carolina
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 12, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Marshall R. Wilson – Kansas City, KS
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; District of Kansas
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (December 20, 2010)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
William Wilson – Independence, LA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base ("crack"); Eastern District of Louisiana
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (February 15, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Gregory C. Womack – Oklahoma City, OK
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine; manufacturing methamphetamine; manufacturing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting; maintaining a place for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting; Western District of Oklahoma
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (January 26, 1999)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on July 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Marshane Woods ─ Mebane, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine hydrochloride and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (February 23, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 360 months.
Ayande Yearwood – Baltimore, MD
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; District of Maryland
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $17,500 fine (October 20, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019 and unpaid balance of $17,500 fine remitted when his sentence expires, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug abuse treatment, unpaid remainder of fine remitted.
Antonio Antwain Young – Maryville, TN
Offense: Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 180 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (May 29, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Calvin Tyrone Young – Winston-Salem, NC
Offense: Conspiracy: Distribute crack; Middle District of North Carolina
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 15, 1997)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 19, 2017.
Connie Jermaine Young ─ Spartanburg, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine; Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: Life imprisonment (November 26, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in the residential drug treatment.
Travis Demetrius Youngblood – Union Spring, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Kentucky
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 12, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on January 19, 2019, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
The President and First Lady spoke by telephone today with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband, Professor Dr. Joachim Sauer, to express appreciation for their personal friendship and efforts to forge deeper partnership between Germany and the United States over the last eight years. The President thanked Chancellor Merkel for her strong, courageous, and steady leadership. The President and Chancellor agreed that close cooperation between Washington and Berlin and between the United States and Europe are essential to ensuring a sturdy trans-Atlantic bond, a rules-based international order, and the defense of values that have done so much to advance human progress in our countries and around the world. Given their eight years of friendship and partnership, the President noted that it was fitting that his final call with a foreign leader was with Chancellor Merkel, and he wished her the very best going forward.
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE
January 19, 2017
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Mr. President:)
For 15 years, the United States has detained hundreds of people at the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, a facility that never should have been opened in the first place. Rather than keeping us safer, the detention facility at Guantanamo undermines American national security. Terrorists use it for propaganda, its operations drain our military resources during a time of budget cuts, and it harms our partnerships with allies and countries whose cooperation we need against today's evolving terrorist threat. By any measure, the costs of keeping it open far exceed the complications involved in closing it.
As President, I have tried to close Guantanamo. When I inherited this challenge, it was widely recognized that the facility -- which many around the world continue to condemn -- needed to close. Unfortunately, what had previously been bipartisan support for closure suddenly became a partisan issue. Despite those politics, we have made progress. This Administration established a comprehensive, interagency review process to assess whether the transfer of a detainee is in the national security interest of the United States. Under this rigorous process, we have transferred 196 detainees from Guantanamo with arrangements designed to keep them from engaging in acts that pose a threat to the United States and our allies. Of the nearly 800 detainees at one time held at the facility, today only 41 remain.
The Department of Defense has also provided the Congress with a comprehensive plan to finally close Guantanamo once and for all. In addition to calling for us to continue to identify and effectuate secure transfer opportunities, it calls for the continued periodic review of the threat posed by individuals still detained, the use of all legal tools to deal with the remaining detainees still held under law of war detention, and the identification of a secure location in the United States to hold remaining detainees who are subject to military commissions or who we have determined must continue to be detained because they pose a continuing significant threat to the United States. I have included an update to that plan here.
The restrictions imposed by the Congress that prevent us from imprisoning detainees -- even to prosecute and secure a life sentence -- in the United States make no sense. No person has ever escaped one of our super-max or military prisons here, ever. There is simply no justification beyond politics for the Congress' insistence on keeping the facility open. Members of Congress who obstruct efforts to close the facility, given the stakes involved for our security, have abdicated their responsibility to the American people. They have placed politics above the ongoing costs to taxpayers, our relationships with our allies, and the threat posed to U.S. national security by leaving open a facility that governments around the world condemn and which hinders rather than helps our fight against terrorism.
If this were easy, we would have closed Guantanamo years ago. But history will cast a harsh judgment on this aspect of our fight against terrorism and those of us who fail to bring it to a responsible end. Once again, I encourage the Congress to close the facility and permit more of our brave men and women in uniform serving at Guantanamo Bay to return to meeting the challenges of the 21st century around the globe. There remains bipartisan support for closing Guantanamo and we can do so in a responsible and secure way that also saves the American taxpayer money. Guantanamo is contrary to our values and undermines our standing in the world, and it is long past time to end this chapter in our history.
Sincerely,
BARACK OBAMA
Obama Administration Efforts to Close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility
President Obama spoke by phone today with President Ashraf Ghani of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, who was joined by Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah Abdullah. President Obama expressed his deep appreciation for the steadfast partnership between the United States and Afghanistan. He commended the leaders for their commitment to the Afghan people and applauded the National Unity Government's efforts to reduce corruption and support the rule of law. The President encouraged both leaders to continue their shared efforts to enhance national unity and support a lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.
President Obama spoke by phone today with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India to thank the Prime Minister for his partnership and to review joint efforts of cooperation including defense, civil nuclear energy, and enhanced people-to-people ties. Recalling his visit as Chief Guest at India's Republic Day celebrations in 2015, President Obama wished the Prime Minister warm congratulations ahead of India's upcoming 68th Republic Day anniversary. Both leaders discussed the progress they have made on shared economic and security priorities, including recognition of India as a Major Defense Partner of the United States and addressing the global challenge of climate change.
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
2:24 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. Let me start out by saying that I was sorely tempted to wear a tan suit today -- (laughter) -- for my last press conference. But Michelle, whose fashion sense is a little better than mine, tells me that's not appropriate in January.
I covered a lot of the ground that I would want to cover in my farewell address last week. So I'm just going to say a couple of quick things before I start taking questions.
First, we have been in touch with the Bush family today, after hearing about President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush being admitted to the hospital this morning. They have not only dedicated their lives to this country, they have been a constant source of friendship and support and good counsel for Michelle and me over the years. They are as fine a couple as we know. And so we want to send our prayers and our love to them. Really good people.
Second thing I want to do is to thank all of you. Some of you have been covering me for a long time -- folks like Christi and Win. Some of you I've just gotten to know. We have traveled the world together. We’ve hit a few singles, a few doubles together. I’ve offered advice that I thought was pretty sound, like “don’t do stupid…stuff.” (Laughter.) And even when you complained about my long answers, I just want you to know that the only reason they were long was because you asked six-part questions. (Laughter.)
But I have enjoyed working with all of you. That does not, of course, mean that I’ve enjoyed every story that you have filed. But that’s the point of this relationship. You’re not supposed to be sycophants, you're supposed to be skeptics. You’re supposed to ask me tough questions. You're not supposed to be complimentary, but you're supposed to cast a critical eye on folks who hold enormous power and make sure that we are accountable to the people who sent us here.
And you have done that. And you’ve done it, for the most part, in ways that I could appreciate for fairness even if I didn’t always agree with your conclusions. And having you in this building has made this place work better. It keeps us honest. It makes us work harder. It made us think about how we are doing what we do and whether or not we're able to deliver on what’s been requested by our constituents.
And for example, every time you’ve asked “why haven’t you cured Ebola yet,” or “why is that still that hole in the Gulf,” it has given me the ability to go back to my team and say, “will you get this solved before the next press conference?” (Laughter.)
I spent a lot of time in my farewell address talking about the state of our democracy. It goes without saying that essential to that is a free press. That is part of how this place, this country, this grand experiment in self-government has to work. It doesn’t work if we don't have a well-informed citizenry. And you are the conduit through which they receive the information about what’s taking place in the halls of power.
So America needs you, and our democracy needs you. We need you to establish a baseline of facts and evidence that we can use as a starting point for the kind of reasoned and informed debates that ultimately lead to progress. And so my hope is, is that you will continue with the same tenacity that you showed us to do the hard work of getting to the bottom of stories and getting them right, and to push those of us in power to be the best version of ourselves. And to push this country to be the best version of itself.
I have no doubt that you will do so. I’m looking forward to being an active consumer of your work rather than always the subject of it. I want to thank you all for your extraordinary service to our democracy.
And with that, I will take some questions. And I will start with Jeff Mason -- whose term apparently is not up. I thought we’d be going out together, brother, but you got to hang around for a while. (Laughter.)
Q I'm staying put.
THE PRESIDENT: Jeff Mason, Reuters.
Q Thank you, sir. Are you concerned, Mr. President, that commuting Chelsea Manning’s sentence will send a message that leaking classified material will not generate a tough sentence to groups like WikiLeaks? How do you reconcile that in light of WikiLeaks’ connection to Russia’s hacking in last year’s election? And related to that, Julian Assange has now offered to come to the United States. Are you seeking that? And would he be charged or arrested if he came here?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, let’s be clear, Chelsea Manning has served a tough prison sentence. So the notion that the average person who was thinking about disclosing vital, classified information would think that it goes unpunished I don't think would get that impression from the sentence that Chelsea Manning has served.
It has been my view that given she went to trial, that due process was carried out, that she took responsibility for her crime, that the sentence that she received was very disproportional -- disproportionate relative to what other leakers had received, and that she had served a significant amount of time, that it made it sense to commute -- and not pardon -- her sentence.
And I feel very comfortable that justice has been served and that a message has still been sent that when it comes to our national security, that wherever possible, we need folks who may have legitimate concerns about the actions of government or their superiors or the agencies in which they work -- that they try to work through the established channels and avail themselves of the whistleblower protections that had been put in place.
I recognize that there’s some folks who think they're not enough, and I think all of us, when we're working in big institutions, may find ourselves at times at odds with policies that are set. But when it comes to national security, we're often dealing with people in the field whose lives may be put at risk, or the safety and security and the ability of our military or our intelligence teams or embassies to function effectively. And that has to be kept in mind.
So with respect to WikiLeaks, I don't see a contradiction. First of all, I haven't commented on WikiLeaks, generally. The conclusions of the intelligence community with respect to the Russian hacking were not conclusive as to whether WikiLeaks was witting or not in being the conduit through which we heard about the DNC emails that were leaked.
I don't pay a lot of attention to Mr. Assange's tweets, so that wasn't a consideration in this instance. And I'd refer you to the Justice Department for any criminal investigations, indictments, extradition issues that may come up with him.
What I can say broadly is that, in this new cyber age, we're going to have to make sure that we continually work to find the right balance of accountability and openness and transparency that is the hallmark of our democracy, but also recognize that there are adversaries and bad actors out there who want to use that same openness in ways that hurt us -- whether that's in trying to commit financial crimes, or trying to commit acts of terrorism, or folks who want to interfere with our elections.
And we're going to have to continually build the kind of architecture that makes sure the best of our democracy is preserved; that our national security and intelligence agencies have the ability to carry out policy without advertising to our adversaries what it is that we're doing, but do so in a way that still keeps citizens up to speed on what their government is doing on their behalf.
But with respect to Chelsea Manning, I looked at the particulars of this case the same way I have for the other commutations and pardons that I've done, and I felt that in light of all the circumstances that commuting her sentence was entirely appropriate.
Margaret Brennan.
Q Mr. President, thank you. The President-elect has said that he would consider lifting sanctions on Russia if they substantially reduced their nuclear stockpile. Given your own efforts at arms control, do you think that's an effective strategy? Knowing this office and Mr. Trump, how would you advise his advisors to help him be effective when he deals with Vladimir Putin? And given your actions recently on Russia, do you think those sanctions should be viewed as leverage?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, a couple of things. Number one, I think it is in America's interest and the world's interest that we have a constructive relationship with Russia. That's been my approach throughout my presidency. Where our interests have overlapped, we've worked together. At the beginning of my term, I did what I could to encourage Russia to be a constructive member of the international community, and tried to work with the President and the government of Russia in helping them diversify their economy, improve their economy, use the incredible talents of the Russian people in more constructive ways.
I think it’s fair to say that after President Putin came back into the presidency that an escalating anti-American rhetoric and an approach to global affairs that seemed to be premised on the idea that whatever America is trying to do must be bad for Russia and so we want to try and counteract whatever they do -- that return to an adversarial spirit that I think existed during the Cold War has made the relationship more difficult. And it was hammered home when Russia went into Crimea and portions of Ukraine.
The reason we imposed the sanctions, recall, was not because of nuclear weapons issues. It was because the independence and sovereignty of a country, Ukraine, had been encroached upon, by force, by Russia. That wasn’t our judgment; that was the judgment of the entire international community. And Russia continues to occupy Ukrainian territory and meddle in Ukrainian affairs and support military surrogates who have violated basic international law and international norms.
What I’ve said to the Russians is, as soon as you’ve stop doing that the sanctions will be removed. And I think it would probably best serve not only American interest but also the interest of preserving international norms if we made sure that we don’t confuse why these sanctions have been imposed with a whole set of other issues.
On nuclear issues, in my first term we negotiated the START II treaty. and that has substantially reduced our nuclear stockpiles, both Russia and the United States. I was prepared to go further. I told President Putin I was prepared to go further. They have been unwilling to negotiate. If President-elect Trump is able to restart those talks in a serious way, I think there remains a lot of room for our two countries to reduce our stockpiles. And part of the reason we’ve been successful on our nonproliferation agenda and on our nuclear security agenda is because we were leading by example.
I hope that continues. But I think it’s important just to remember that the reason sanctions have been put in place against Russia has to do with their actions in Ukraine. And it is important for the United States to stand up for the basic principle that big countries don’t go around and invade and bully smaller countries. I’ve said before, I expect Russia and Ukraine to have a strong relationship. They are, historically, bound together in all sorts of cultural and social ways. But Ukraine is an independent country.
And this is a good example of the vital role that America has to continue to play around the world in preserving basic norms and values, whether it’s advocating on behalf of human rights, advocating on behalf of women’s rights, advocating on behalf of freedom of the press.
The United States has not always been perfect in this regard. There are times where we, by necessity, are dealing with allies or friends or partners who, themselves, are not meeting the standards that we would like to see met when it comes to international rules and norms. But I can tell you that in every multilateral setting -- in the United Nations, in the G20, in the G7 -- the United States typically has been on the right side of these issues. And it is important for us to continue to be on the right side of these issues, because if we, the largest, strongest country and democracy in the world, are not willing to stand up on behalf of these values, then certainly China, Russia, and others will not.
Kevin Corke.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. You have been a strong supporter of the idea of a peaceful transfer of power, demonstrated not terribly far from the Rose Garden. And yet, even as you and I speak, there are more than five dozen Democrats that are going to boycott the inauguration of the incoming President. Do you support that? And what message would you send to Democrats to better demonstrate the peaceful transfer of power?
And if I could follow, I wanted to ask you about your conversations with the President-elect previously. And without getting into too much of the personal side of it, I’m just curious, were you able to use that opportunity to convince him to take a fresh look at some of the important ideas that you will leave this office with -- maintaining some semblance of the Affordable Care Act, some idea of keeping DREAMers here in the country without fear of deportation. Were you able to use personal stories to try to convince him? And how successful were you?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I won’t go into details of my conversations with President-elect Trump. As I’ve said before, they are cordial. At times they've been fairly lengthy and they've been substantive. I can't tell you how convincing I’ve been. I think you'd had to ask him whether I’ve been convincing or not.
I have offered my best advice, counsel about certain issues both foreign and domestic. And my working assumption is, is that having won an election opposed to a number of my initiatives and certain aspects of my vision for where the country needs to go, it is appropriate for him to go forward with his vision and his values. And I don't expect that there’s going to be enormous overlap.
It may be that on certain issues, once he comes into office and he looks at the complexities of how to, in fact, provide health care for everybody -- something he says he wants to do -- or wants to make sure that he is encouraging job creation and wage growth in this country, that that may lead him to some of the same conclusions that I arrived at once I got here.
But I don't think we’ll know until he has an actual chance to get sworn in and sit behind that desk. And I think a lot of his views are going to be shaped by his advisors, the people around him -- which is why it’s important to pay attention to these confirmation hearings.
I can tell you that -- and this is something I have told him -- that this is a job of such magnitude that you can't do it by yourself. You are enormously reliant on a team. Your Cabinet, your senior White House staff, all the way to fairly junior folks in their 20s and 30s, but who are executing on significant responsibilities.
And so how you put a team together to make sure that they're getting you the best information and they are teeing up the options from which you will ultimately make decisions, that's probably the most useful advice, the most constructive advice that I've been able to give him. That if you find yourself isolated because the process breaks down, or if you're only hearing from people who agree with you on everything, or if you haven’t created a process that is fact-checking and probing and asking hard questions about policies or promises that you've made, that's when you start making mistakes. And as I indicated in some of my previous remarks, reality has a way of biting back if you're not paying attention to it.
With respect to the inauguration, I'm not going to comment on those issues. All I know is I'm going to be there. So is Michelle. And I have been checking the weather, and I'm heartened by the fact that it won't be as cold as my first inauguration -- (laughter) -- because that was cold.
Jen Rodriguez.
Q Right here, Mr. President. Thank you very much. You have said that you would come back to fight for the DREAMers. You said that a couple of weeks ago. Are you fearful for the status of those DREAMers, the future of the young immigrants and all immigrants in this country with the new administration? And what did you mean when you said you would come back? Would you lobby Congress? Maybe explore the political arena again? And if I may ask you a second question -- why did you take action on "dry foot, wet foot" a week ago?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, let me be absolutely clear. I did not mean that I was going to be running for anything anytime soon. (Laughter.) What I meant is that it's important for me to take some time to process this amazing experience that we've gone through; to make sure that my wife, with whom I will be celebrating a 25th anniversary this year, is willing to re-up and put up with me for a little bit longer. I want to do some writing. I want to be quiet a little bit and not hear myself talk so darn much. I want to spend precious time with my girls.
So those are my priorities this year. But as I said before, I'm still a citizen. And I think it is important for Democrats or progressives who feel that they came out on the wrong side of this election to be able to distinguish between the normal back-and-forth, ebb and flow of policy -- are we going to raise taxes or are we going to lower taxes; are we going to expand this program or eliminate this program; how concerned are we about air pollution or climate change. Those are all normal parts of the debate. And as I've said before, in a democracy, sometimes you're going to win on those issues and sometimes you're going to lose.
I'm confident about the rightness of my positions on a lot of these points, but we got a new President and a Congress that are going to make their same determinations. And there will be a back-and-forth in Congress around those issues, and you guys will report on all that.
But there's difference between that normal functioning of politics and certain issues or certain moments where I think our core values may be at stake. I put in that category, if I saw systematic discrimination being ratified in some fashion. I'd put in that category, explicit or functional obstacles to people being able to vote, to exercise their franchise. I'd put in that category, institutional efforts to silence dissent or the press.
And for me, at least, I would put in that category, efforts to round up kids who have grown up here and for all practical purposes are American kids and send them someplace else when they love this country; they are our kids' friends and their classmates, and are now entering into community colleges or, in some cases, serving in our military. The notion that we would just arbitrarily, or because of politics, punish those kids when they didn't do anything wrong themselves I think would be something that would merit me speaking out. It doesn't mean that I would get on the ballot anywhere.
With respect to “wet foot, dry foot,” we underwent a monumental shift in our policy towards Cuba. My view was, after 50 years of a policy not working, it made sense for us to try to reopen diplomatic relations, to engage a Cuban government, to be honest with them about the strong disagreements we have around political repression and treatment of dissenters and freedom of press and freedom of religion, but that to make progress for the Cuban people, our best shot was to suddenly have the Cuban people interacting with Americans, and seeing the incredible success of the Cuban American community, and engaging in commerce and business and trade, and that it was through that process of opening up these bilateral relations that you would see over time serious and significant improvement.
Given that shift in the relationship, the policy that we had in place was “wet foot, dry foot,” which treated Cuban emigres completely different from folks from El Salvador, or Guatemala, or Nicaragua, or any other part of the world, one that made a distinction between whether you got here by land or by foot -- that was a carryover of a old way of thinking that didn't make sense in this day and age, particularly as we're opening up travel between the two countries.
And so we had very lengthy consultations with the Department of Homeland Security. We had some tough negotiations with the Cuban government. But we arrived at a policy which we think is both fair and appropriate to the changing nature of the relationship between the two countries.
Nadia Bilbassy.
Q Thank you, sir. I appreciate the opportunity, and I want you and your family best of luck in the future.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
Q Mr. President, you have been criticized and even personally attacked for the U.N. Security Council resolution that considered the Israeli settlements illegal and an obstacle to peace. Mr. Trump promised to move the embassy to Jerusalem. He appointed an ambassador that doesn't believe in the two-state solution. How worried are you about the U.S. leadership in the Arab world and beyond as an honest broker? Will this ignite a third intifada? Will this even protect Israel? And in retrospect, do you think that you should have held Israel more accountable, like President Bush, Senior, did with the loan guarantees? Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: I continue to be significantly worried about the Israeli-Palestinian issue. And I’m worried about it both because I think the status quo is unsustainable, that it is dangerous for Israel, that it is bad for Palestinians, it is bad for the region, and it is bad for America’s national security.
And I came into this office wanting to do everything I could to encourage serious peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. And we invested a lot of energy, a lot of time, a lot of effort, first year, second year, all the way until last year. Ultimately, what has always been clear is that we cannot force the parties to arrive at peace. What we can do is facilitate, provide a platform, encourage. But we can't force them to do it.
But in light of shifts in Israeli politics and Palestinian politics; a rightward drift in Israeli politics; a weakening of President Abbas’s ability to move and take risks on behalf of peace in the Palestinian Territories; in light of all the dangers that have emerged in the region and the understandable fears that Israelis may have about the chaos and rise of groups like ISIL and the deterioration of Syria -- in light of all those things, what we at least wanted to do, understanding that the two parties wouldn’t actually arrive at a final status agreement, is to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution. Because we do not see an alternative to it.
And I’ve said this directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu. I’ve said it inside of Israel. I’ve said it to Palestinians, as well. I don't see how this issues gets resolved in a way that maintains Israel as both Jewish and a democracy, because if you do not have two states, then in some form or fashion you are extending an occupation, functionally you end up having one state in which millions of people are disenfranchised and operate as second-class occupant -- residents. You can’t even call them citizens, necessarily.
And so the goal of the resolution was to simply say that the settlements -- the growth of the settlements are creating a reality on the ground that increasingly will make a two-state solution impossible. And we believed, consistent with the position that had been taken with previous U.S. administrations for decades now, that it was important for us to send a signal, a wake-up call, that this moment may be passing, and Israeli voters and Palestinians need to understand that this moment may be passing. And hopefully that, then, creates a debate inside both Israeli and Palestinian communities that won’t result immediately in peace, but at least will lead to a more sober assessment of what the alternatives are.
So the President-elect will have his own policy. The ambassador -- or the candidate for the ambassadorship obviously has very different views than I do. That is their prerogative. That’s part of what happens after elections. And I think my views are clear. We’ll see how their approach plays itself out.
I don’t want to project today what could end up happening, but obviously it’s a volatile environment. What we’ve seen in the past is, when sudden, unilateral moves are made that speak to some of the core issues and sensitivities of either side, that can be explosive. And what we’ve tried to do in the transition is just to provide the context in which the President-elect may want to make some of these decisions.
Q Are you worried that this (inaudible) --
THE PRESIDENT: Well, that’s part of what we’ve tried to indicate to the incoming team in our transition process, is pay attention to this, because this is volatile stuff. People feel deeply and passionately about this. And as I’ve said I think many times, the actions that we take have enormous consequences and ramifications.
We’re the biggest kid on the block. And I think it is right and appropriate for a new President to test old assumptions and reexamine the old ways of doing things. But if you’re going to make big shifts in policy, just make sure you’ve thought it through, and understand that there are going to be consequences, and actions typically create reactions, and so you want to be intentional about it. You don’t want to do things off the cuff when it comes to an issue this volatile.
Chris Johnson.
Q On LGBT rights --
THE PRESIDENT: I'm sorry, where is Chris?
Q I'm right here in the back.
THE PRESIDENT: I'm sorry, didn’t see you.
Q On LGBT rights, we've seen a lot of achievements over the past eight years, including signing hate crimes protection legislation, "don’t ask, don’t tell" repeal, marriage equality nationwide, and ensuring transgender people feel visible and accepted. How do you think LGBT rights will rank in terms of your accomplishments and your legacy? And how confident are you that progress will endure or continue under the President-elect?
THE PRESIDENT: I could not be prouder of the transformation that's taken place in our society just in the last decade. And I've said before, I think we made some useful contributions to it, but the primary heroes in this stage of our growth as a democracy and a society are all the individual activists, and sons and daughters and couples who courageously said, this is who I am and I'm proud of it.
And that opened people's minds and opened their hearts. And, eventually, laws caught up. But I don’t think any of that would have happened without the activism -- in some cases, loud and noisy, but in some cases, just quiet and very personal.
And I think that what we did as an administration was to help the society to move in a better direction, but to do so in a way that didn’t create an enormous backlash, and was systematic and respectful of the fact that, in some cases, these issues were controversial.
I think the way we handled, for example, "don’t ask, don’t tell" -- being methodical about it, working with the Joint Chiefs, making sure that we showed this would not have an impact on the effectiveness of the greatest military on Earth -- and then to have Defense Secretary Bob Gates and Chairman Mike Mullen and a Joint Chiefs who were open to evidence and ultimately worked with me to do the right thing -- I am proud of that. But, again, none of that would have happened without this incredible transformation that was happening in society out there.
You know, when I gave Ellen the Presidential Medal of Freedom, I meant what I said. I think somebody that kind and likeable projecting into living rooms around the country -- that changed attitudes. And that wasn’t easy to do for her. And that's just one small example of what was happening in countless communities all across the country.
So I’m proud that in certain places we maybe provided a good block downfield to help the movement advance.
I don't think it is something that will be reversible because American society has changed; the attitudes of young people, in particular, have changed. That doesn't mean there aren’t going to be some fights that are important -- legal issues, issues surrounding transgender persons -- there are still going to be some battles that need to take place.
But if you talk to young people of Malia, Sasha’s generation, even if they’re Republicans, even if they're conservative, many of them would tell you, I don't understand how you would discriminate against somebody because of sexual orientation. That's just sort of burned into them in pretty powerful ways.
April Ryan.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. Long before today you’ve been considered a rights President. Under your watch, people have said that you have expanded the rubber band of inclusion. And with the election and the incoming administration, people are saying that rubber band has recoiled and maybe is even broken. And I’m taking you back to a time on Air Force One going to Selma, Alabama, when you said your job was to close the gaps that remain. And with that, what gaps still remain when it comes to rights issues on the table? And also what part will you play in fixing those gaps after -- in your new life?
And lastly, you are the first black President. Do you expect this country to see this again?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I’ll answer the last question first. I think we're going to see people of merit rise up from every race, faith, corner of this country, because that's America’s strength. When we have everybody getting a chance and everybody is on the field, we end up being better.
I think I’ve used this analogy before. We killed it in the Olympics in Brazil. And Michelle and I, we always have our -- the Olympic team here. And it’s a lot of fun, first of all, just because anytime you're meeting somebody who is the best at anything, it’s impressive. And these mostly very young people are all just so healthy-looking, and they just beam and exude fitness and health. And so we have a great time talking to them.
But they are of all shapes, sizes, colors -- the genetic diversity that is on display is remarkable. And if you look at a Simone Biles, and then you look at a Michael Phelps, they're completely different. And it's precisely because of those differences that we've got people here who can excel at any sport.
And, by the way, more than half of our medals came from women. And the reason is, is because we had the foresight several decades ago, with something called Title 9, to make sure that women got opportunities in sports, which is why our women compete better -- because they have more opportunities than folks in other countries.
So I use that as a metaphor. And if, in fact, we continue to keep opportunity open to everybody, then, yes, we're going to have a woman President, we're going to have a Latino President, and we'll have a Jewish President, a Hindu President. Who knows who we're going to have? I suspect we'll have a whole bunch of mixed-up Presidents at some point that nobody really knows what to call them. (Laughter.) And that's fine.
But what do I worry about? I obviously spent a lot of time on this, April, at my farewell address on Tuesday, so I won't go through the whole list. I worry about inequality, because I think that if we are not investing in making sure everybody plays a role in this economy, the economy will not grow as fast, and I think it will also lead to further and further separation between us as Americans -- not just along racial lines. There are a whole bunch of folks who voted for the President-elect because they feel forgotten and disenfranchised. They feel as if they're being looked down on. They feel as if their kids aren't going to have the same opportunities as they did.
And you don't want to have an America in which a very small sliver of people are doing really well and everybody else is fighting for scraps, as I said last week. Because that's oftentimes when racial divisions get magnified, because people think, well, the only way I'm going to get ahead is if I make sure somebody else gets less, somebody who doesn't look like me or doesn't worship at the same place I do. That's not a good recipe for our democracy.
I worry about, as I said in response to a previous question, making sure that the basic machinery of our democracy works better. We are the only country in the advanced world that makes it harder to vote rather than easier. And that dates back -- there's an ugly history to that that we should not be shy about talking about.
Q Voting rights?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I'm talking about voting rights. The reason that we are the only country among advanced democracies that makes it harder to vote is it traces directly back to Jim Crow and the legacy of slavery. And it became sort of acceptable to restrict the franchise. And that's not who we are. That shouldn't be who we are. That's not when America works best.
So I hope that people pay a lot of attention to making sure that everybody has a chance to vote. Make it easier, not harder. This whole notion of election -- of voting fraud, this is something that has constantly been disproved. This is fake news -- the notion that there are a whole bunch of people out there who are going out there and are not eligible to vote and want to vote. We have the opposite problem. We have a whole bunch of people who are eligible to vote who don't vote. And so the idea that we'd put in place a whole bunch of barriers to people voting doesn't make sense.
And then, as I've said before, political gerrymandering that makes your vote matter less because politicians have decided you live in a district where everybody votes the same way you do so that these aren't competitive races, and we get 90 percent Democratic districts, 90 percent Republican districts -- that's bad for our democracy, too. I worry about that.
I think it is very important for us to make sure that our criminal justice system is fair and just. But I also think it's also very important to make sure that it is not politicized, that it maintains an integrity that is outside of partisan politics at every level.
I think at some point we’re going to have to spend -- and this will require some action by the Supreme Court -- we have to reexamine just the flood of endless money that goes into our politics, which I think is very unhealthy.
So there are a whole bunch of things I worry about there. And as I said in my speech on Tuesday, we got more work to do on race. It is not -- it is simply not true that things have gotten worse. They haven’t. Things are getting better. And I have more confidence on racial issues in the next generation than I do in our generation or the previous generation. I think kids are smarter about it. They’re more tolerant. They are more inclusive by instinct than we are. And hopefully my presidency maybe helped that along a little bit.
But, you know, we -- when we feel stress, when we feel pressure, when we’re just fed information that encourages some of our worst instincts, we tend to fall back into some of the old racial fears and racial divisions and racial stereotypes. And it’s very hard for us to break out of those, and to listen, and to think about people as people, and to imagine being in that person’s shoes.
And by the way, it’s no longer a black and white issue alone. You got Hispanic folks, and you got Asian folks, and this is not just the same old battles. We’ve got this stew that’s bubbling up of people from everywhere. And we’re going to have to make sure that we, in our own lives, in our own families and workplaces, do a better job of treating everybody with basic respect. And understanding that not everybody starts off in the same situation, and imagining what would it be like if you were born in an inner city and had no job prospects anywhere within a 20-mile radius, or how does it feel being born in some rural county where there’s no job opportunities in a 20-mile radius -- and seeing those two things as connected as opposed to separate.
So we got work to do. But, overall, I think on this front, the trend lines ultimately, I think, will be good.
Christi Parsons. And Christi, you are going to get the last question.
Q Oh, no. (Laughter and groans.)
THE PRESIDENT: Christi is -- I’ve been knowing her since Springfield, Illinois. When I was a state senator, she listened to what I had to say. (Laughter.) So the least I can do is give her the last question as President of the United States.
Go on.
Q 217 numbers still work.
THE PRESIDENT: There you go. Go ahead.
Q Well, thank you, Mr. President. It has been an honor.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
Q And I have a personal question for you, because I know how much you like this. The First Lady puts the stakes of the 2016 election in very personal terms in a speech that resonated across the country, and she really spoke the concerns of a lot of women, LGBT folks, people of color, many others. And so I wonder now how you and the First Lady are talking to your daughters about the meaning of this election and how you interpret it for yourself and for them.
THE PRESIDENT: You know, every parent brags on their daughters or their sons. If your mom and dad don’t brag on you, you know you got problems. (Laughter.) But, man, my daughters are something, and they just surprise and enchant and impress me more and more every single day as they grow up. And so these days, when we talk, we talk as parent to child, but also we learn from them.
And I think it was really interesting to see how Malia and Sasha reacted. They were disappointed. They paid attention to what their mom said during the campaign and believed it because it’s consistent with what we’ve tried to teach them in our household, and what I've tried to model as a father with their mom, and what we've asked them to expect from future boyfriends or spouses.
But what we've also tried to teach them is resilience, and we've tried to teach them hope, and that the only thing that is the end of the world is the end of the world. And so you get knocked down, you get up, brush yourself off, and you get back to work. And that tended to be their attitude.
I think neither of them intend to pursue a future of politics -- and, in that, too, I think their mother's influence shows. (Laughter.) But both of them have grown up in an environment where I think they could not help but be patriotic, to love this country deeply, to see that it's flawed but see that they have responsibilities to fix it. And that they need to be active citizens, and they have to be in a position to talk to their friends and their teachers and their future coworkers in ways that try to shed some light as opposed to just generate a lot of sound and fury.
And I expect that's what they're going to do. They do not -- they don't mope. And what I really am proud of them -- what makes me proudest about them is that they also don't get cynical about it. They have not assumed because their side didn't win, or because some of the values that they care about don't seem as if they were vindicated, that automatically America has somehow rejected them or rejected their values. I don't think they feel that way.
I think that they have, in part through osmosis, in part through dinnertime conversations, appreciated the fact that this is a big, complicated country, and democracy is messy and it doesn't always work exactly the way you might want, it doesn't guarantee certain outcomes. But if you're engaged and you're involved, then there are a lot more good people than bad in this country, and there's a core decency to this country, and that they got to be a part of lifting that up.
And I expect they will be. And in that sense, they are representative of this generation that makes me really optimistic.
I've been asked -- I've had some off-the-record conversations with some journalists where they said, okay, you seem like you're okay, but really, really, what are you thinking? (Laughter.) And I've said, no, what I'm saying really is what I think. I believe in this country. I believe in the American people. I believe that people are more good than bad. I believe tragic things happen, I think there's evil in the world, but I think that at the end of the day, if we work hard, and if we're true to those things in us that feel true and feel right, that the world gets a little better each time.
That's what this presidency has tried to be about. And I see that in the young people I've worked with. I couldn't be prouder of them. And so this is not just a matter of "No Drama Obama" -- this is what I really believe. It is true that behind closed doors I curse more than I do publicly. (Laughter.) And sometimes I get mad and frustrated, like everybody else does. But at my core, I think we're going to be okay. We just have to fight for it. We have to work for it, and not take it for granted. And I know that you will help us do that.
Thank you very much, press corps. Good luck.
END
3:23 P.M. EST
The Vice President called Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi today to thank him for his close partnership and leadership in the Iraqi-led campaign to liberate Mosul and all of Iraq from the terrorist group ISIL. The Vice President also commended Prime Minister Abadi for significant Iraqi military progress in eastern Mosul in recent days and expressed condolences for all Iraqi lives lost in the fight against ISIL. Both leaders underscored the importance of sustained cooperation between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to bolster security and ensure ISIL's lasting defeat in northern Iraq. Both leaders also reaffirmed that the strategic partnership between the United States and Iraq will remain in the interest of both countries.
As Prepared for delivery:
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s a great honor to once again address this distinguished forum.
But this year, in these early days of 2017, there’s a palpable uncertainty about the state of our world.
For the members of the media in the audience, I want to make it clear that I am not referring to the imminent transition of power in my country.
In two days, there will be a new President of the United States, but the challenges we face and the choices we must make as an international community do not hinge exclusively on Washington’s leadership.
Whether we reinforce the ties that bind us, or whether we unravel under current pressures— those choices must be made in every nation, and they will determine what kind of world we leave to our children.
For the past seven decades, the choices we have made— particularly the United States and our Allies in Europe— have steered our world down a clear path.
After World War II, we drew a line under centuries of conflict and took steps to bend the arc of history in a more just direction. Instead of resigning ourselves to ceaseless wars, we built institutions and alliances to advance our shared security.
Instead of punishing former enemies, we invested billions in helping them rebuild.
Instead of sorting the world into winners and losers, we outlined universal values that defined a better future for all our children.
Our careful attention to building and sustaining a liberal international order—with the United States and Europe at its core—was the bedrock of the success the world enjoyed in the second half of the 20th Century
An era of expanding liberty.
Unprecedented economic growth that lifted millions out of poverty.
A community of democracies that—to this day— serves as the fulcrum for our common security and for our capacity to address the world’s most pressing challenges.
Strengthening these values— values that have served our community of nations so well, for so long—is paramount to retaining the position of leadership Western nations enjoy and preserving the progress we have made together.
Strengthening these values— values that have served our community of nations so well, for so long—is paramount to retaining the position of leadership Western nations enjoy and preserving the progress we have made together.
Today, I’d like to speak to the sources of those pressures, and about why it is imperative that we act urgently to defend the liberal international order.
Here in this exclusive Alpine tower, where CEOs of multinational corporations rub elbows with leaders of nations, it is easy to embrace the intellectual benefits of a more open and integrated world.
The concern mothers and fathers feel about losing the factory job that has always allowed them to provide for their families.
Parents who don’t believe that they can give their children a better life than the one they have.
These are the pressures that are undermining support for the liberal international order from the inside.
Globalization has not been an unalloyed good.
It has deepened the rift between those racing ahead at the top and those struggling to hang on in the middle, or falling to the bottom.
One year ago, I spoke here in Davos about the challenges we face in mastering this fourth industrial revolution— about how we can ensure that the benefits and the burdens of globalization and digitization are shared more equitably.
In my country, there used to be a basic bargain, embraced by both major political parties. It was something everyone agreed on.
If you contributed to the success of the enterprise, you shared in the profits. Today that bargain is fractured.
Advanced technology has divorced productivity from labor—meaning we’re making more than ever, but with fewer workers.
There’s a shrinking demand for low-skill laborers, while highly-educated workers are getting paid more and more—contributing to rising inequality.
International trade and greater economic integration has lifted millions of people in the developing world out of abject poverty—improving education, extending life expectancies, opening new opportunities.
Standards of living are still well below middle class expectations in the United States and Europe, but the change is real.
Meanwhile, for many communities in the developed world that have long depended on manufacturing, the opposite is true.
Their relative standard of living has declined. They feel shut out of opportunities. And their economic security feels jeopardized.
Taken together, these forces are effectively hollowing out the middle class—the traditional engine of economic growth and social stability in Western nations.
We cannot undo the changes technology has wrought in our world—nor should we try.
But we can and we must take action to mitigate the economic trends that are stoking unrest in so many advanced economies and undermining people’s basic sense of dignity.
Our goal should be a world where everyone’s standard of living can rise together.
There’s an urgency to taking common sense steps like:
increasing cognitive capabilities through access to education and job training. Ensuring basic protections for workers. Expanding access to capital. And implementing a progressive, equitable tax system where everyone pays their fair share.
(Pause)
Compounding these economic worries are people’s fears about the very real security risks we face.
If you look at the long sweep of history, or even just the trend lines in wars and other incidents of large-scale violence over the past 50, 60, 70 years— as a practical matter, we are probably safer than ever.
But it doesn’t feel that way.
Daily images of violence and unrest from all over the world are shared directly on our televisions and smart phones— images we rarely would have seen in a pre-digital age.
It’s fostered a feeling of perpetual chaos— of being overrun by outside forces.
Communication technologies have fostered incredible progress— making information more open and accessible, breaking down the barriers between people and nations, facilitating greater scientific collaboration, empowering ordinary citizens to challenge injustice and hold their governments accountable.
But they have also given hateful individuals a megaphone to spread their virulent, extremist ideologies.
Radical jihadists not only recruit and find haven in the ungoverned desserts of Iraq and Syria— they do the same in the ungoverned spaces of the Internet.
Borders seem less real. Terrorist attacks feel inescapable. Fears about unrelenting migration mount as people continue to flee violence and deprivation in their homelands.
And in the wake of these understandable fears, we have seen a series of alarming responses.
Popular movements on both the left and the right have demonstrated a dangerous willingness to revert to political small-mindedness—to the same nationalist, protectionist, and isolationist agendas that led the world to consume itself in war during in the last century.
As we have seen time and again throughout history, demagogues and autocrats have emerged— seeking to capitalize on people’s insecurities.
In this case, using Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, or xenophobic rhetoric to stoke fear, sow division, and advance their own narrow agendas.
This is a politics at odds with our values and with the vision that built—and sustains—the liberal international order.
The impulse to hunker down, shut the gates, build walls, and exit at this moment is precisely the wrong answer.
It offers a false sense of security in an interconnected world.
It will not resolve the root causes of these fears— and it risks eroding from the inside out the foundations of the very system that spawned the West’s historically unprecedented success.
We need to tap into the— big-heartedness that conceived a Marshall Plan, the foresight that planned a Bretton Woods, the audacity that proposed a United Nations.
We cannot rout fear with retrenchment. Rather, this is the moment to lead boldly and recommit ourselves to our common principles—which remain essential to my nation, and to liberal democracies the world over. Of course, there are those who do not share this vision for the world.
Those who wish to dissolve the community of democracies and our supporting institutions in favor of a more parochial international order—where power rules and spheres of influence lock in divides among nations.
We see this in Asia and the Middle East— where China and Iran would clearly prefer a world in which they hold sway in their regions. But I will not mince words. This movement is principally led by Russia.
Under President Putin, Russia is working with every tool available to them to whittle away at the edges of the European project, test for fault lines among western nations, and return to a politics defined by spheres of influence.
We see it in their aggression against their neighbors. Sending so-called “little green men” across the border to stir violence and strains of separatism in Ukraine. Using energy as a weapon—cutting off gas supplies mid-winter, raising prices to manipulate nations to act in Russia’s interests. Using corruption to empower oligarchs and coerce politicians.
We see it in their worldwide use of propaganda and false information campaigns: Injecting doubt and political agitation into democratic systems. Strengthening illiberal factions, on both the left and the right, that seek to roll back decades of progress from within our systems.
We even saw it in the cyber intrusions against political parties and individuals in the United States— which our intelligence community has determined with high confidence were specifically motivated to influence our elections.
But it’s not only the United States that has been targeted. Europe has seen the same kind of attacks in the past.
And with many countries in Europe slated to hold elections this year, we should expect further attempts by Russia to meddle in the democratic process.
Again, their purpose is clear— to collapse the liberal international order. Simply put, Russia has a different vision for the future, which they are pursuing across the board.
They seek a return to a world where the strong impose their will through military might, corruption, or criminality—while weaker neighbors fall in line.
And from the first moments of our Administration— even as we sought a reset with then-President Medvedev— President Obama and I have made it clear that this is no way for nations to behave in the 21st Century.
When I addressed the Munich Security Conference in February of 2009, I said:
“We will not recognize any nation having a sphere of influence. It will remain our view that sovereign states have the right to make their own decisions and choose their own alliances.”
That’s been our position throughout the past eight years, and it is a position we must all continue championing in the years ahead.
The United States has not always been the perfect guardian of our order.
We have not always lived up to our own values— and some of our past missteps provided fodder for the forces of illiberalism.
But President Obama and I have worked consistently over the past eight years to lead not only by the example of our power—but by the power of our example.
And this is the challenge that will—by necessity— define the foreign policy agendas of all our nations as we move forward.
So although I will only be the Vice President of the United States for 48 more hours— I am here today to issue a call to action.
We cannot wait for others to write the future they hope to see.
The United States and Europe must lead the fight to defend those values that have brought us to where we are today.
Fight to create more equitable and more inclusive growth for people at every level.
Fight for democracy wherever it is under threat— be it at home or abroad.
Fight to lift up the forces of inclusivity while opposing intolerance in all its guises.
Fight the urge to embrace isolationism and protectionism.
Fight back against the dangerous proposition that facts no longer matter.
That the truth holds no inherent power in a world where propagandists, demagogues, and extremists carry sway.
To win this fight, we must continue to invest in our democratic alliances.
As it as has been for seven decades, the unity of our transatlantic connection is essential to addressing global challenges.
Defending the liberal international order requires that we resist the forces of European disintegration and maintain our long-standing insistence on a Europe whole, free and at peace.
That means fighting for the European Union—one of the most vibrant and consequential institutions on earth
The EU has contributed to the prosperity of millions—fueling reforms that have improved living standards and driving the peaceful resolution of disputes between nations.
That means keeping open the door for membership in European and transatlantic institutions to those states on Europe’s eastern edge—where people in places like the Balkans and Ukraine continue to strive to be part of the incredible undertaking that is the European Union.
The EU has been an indispensable partner to the United States—and as the EU and the UK begin to navigate a new relationship, it remains profoundly in America’s interest to maintain our close relationships with both parties.
All of our peoples are safer when we work together.
We must continue to stand up for those basic norms of modern nations—the principles of territorial integrity, freedom of navigation, and national sovereignty.
The right of all nations “to make their own decisions and choose their own alliances.”
To that end—we must: bolster Europe’s energy independence so that nations are not subject to outside manipulations; improve our cyber defenses; and combat misinformation to prevent outsiders from perverting our democratic processes.
And the single greatest bulwark for our transatlantic partnership is the unshakable commitment of the United States to all our NATO Allies.
An attack on one is an attack on all. That can never be called into question. And we must continue to stand with Ukraine as they resist Russia’s acts of aggression and pursue their European path.
In two days, the United States will engage in the act that has defined our exceptional democracy for more than 200 years—the peaceful transition of power from one leader, and one political party, to another.
And it is my hope and expectation that the next President and Vice President, and our leaders in Congress, will ensure that the United States continues to fulfill our historic responsibility as the indispensable nation.
But we have never been able to lead alone— not after World War II, not during the depths of the Cold War, and not today.
The United States, our NATO allies, all the nations of Europe—we are in this together. As the oldest and the strongest democracies in the world, we have a responsibility to beat back the challenges at our door.
We must never forget how we got here. Or take for granted that our success will continue.
It is only by championing the liberal international order— by continuing to invest in our security, reaffirming our shared values, and expanding the cause of liberty around the world—that will retain our position of leadership.
Because if we don’t fight for our values, no one else will.
The idea of Europe whole, free, and at peace— in my opinion—constitutes one of the most audacious and consequential visions of the past century.
The notion that after centuries of conflict, Europe could reinvent itself as an integrated community— one committed to political solidarity, the free flow of goods and people, and a solemn obligation to collective defense—and succeed in achieving it.
The United States believed in it. Peoples across Europe believed in it—aspired to it.
And you did it.
The success of the European enterprise was essential to America’s security in the 20th Century— and it remains so today.
You’ve heard me make this case for four decades. But I am not alone in this belief. America’s commitment to Europe and NATO is thoroughly bipartisan.
Just last month, my good friend and frequent sparring partner, Republican Senator John McCain traveled to Estonia where he said: “The best way to prevent Russian misbehavior [is] by having a credible, strong military and a strong NATO alliance.”
On the same trip, another leading Republican Senator, Lindsey Graham, assured Ukrainian troops serving on the frontline: “Your fight is our fight.”
That’s the same sentiment I expressed two days ago, when I made my sixth trip to Ukraine as Vice President.
History has proven that the defense of free nations in Europe has always been America’s fight— and the foundation of our security.
Throughout more than four decades of incredibly divisive foreign policy debates, there has always been a consensus about the value of the transatlantic relationship.
That will not change.
And as I re-enter private life, I want to assure you today that I will stand with you as you carry this fight forward.
I will continue to use my voice and my power as a citizen—doing whatever I can to keep our transatlantic alliance strong and vibrant—because our common future depends upon it.
Thank you.
This morning, the President assembled senior members of his counterterrorism and homeland security team to review ongoing security planning for the 58th Inauguration. The President commended the comprehensive preparations across the law enforcement and intelligence community and directed that all agencies maintain their high state of vigilance to assure we are best postured to protect the homeland against terrorist threats and individuals radicalized to violence.
The President was also briefed on ongoing counterterrorism operations in Iraq and Syria that are putting simultaneous pressure on ISIL inside Mosul and around Raqqa. In recent days, Iraqi Security Forces made significant gains in Mosul as ISIL defenses are collapsing in key parts of the city. In northern Syria, local partners continue to constrict ISIL’s movement in the vicinity of Raqqa.
The President noted the impact our strategy is having on the ground is the result of a deliberate effort to accelerate our campaign against ISIL and that the Coalition has put ISIL on the path to lasting defeat. The President expressed his deep appreciation for the contributions of his national security team to these efforts and those of thousands of U.S. personnel deployed around the world who work every day to defend the United States.