President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 102 federal prisoners Thursday, 75 of which were imprisoned on cocaine-related charges. Obama has commuted the sentences of more individuals than the past 11 presidents combined.
Obama has continued to cut short the sentences of individuals convicted of drug crimes. In August he commuted the sentences of 96 cocaine traffickers.
Meet below some of the individuals who will be out of prison early due to President Obama.
Andre Lefell Reese was convicted in 1998 and sentenced to life imprisonment. Court documents state that Reese was found with 167.86 grams of crack cocaine within a 1,000 feet of Blackshear Elementary School in San Angelo, Texas. The documents also state, “In California, arrangements were made for a juvenile to return to San Angelo, Texas, and assist Reese in the sale of the crack cocaine. This juvenile was subsequently arrested with Reese on September 3, 1997.” Reese will now be released from prison in 2023.
Chris Robinson was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2007 for “conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride.” Federal court documents state that at one point he was buying about about fourth of a kilo of cocaine a week for sale. Robinson will now be released from prison in 2027.
Jose Elias Salinas was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison in 2010 for “conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, and 100 grams or more but less than one kilogram of heroin.” The drug operation he was a part of netted $375,000, according to a federal court document. Salinas will be released from prison on October 6, 2018.
Frank Lavelle Sharpe was sentenced to life in prison in 1999 for four counts of distribution of cocaine base. He has previous convictions for two counts of selling cocaine in 1998, and was convicted in 1991 for shooting into or within a building and possession of cocaine with intent to sell. Sharpe will now be out of prison in 2029.
Norwood Wallace Barber, Jr. was convicted to life imprisonment in 2005 for intent to distribute 50 grams, or more, of crack cocaine. A federal affidavit states that Barber at one point was buying 200 grams of crack cocaine on a weekly basis. He was previously convicted twice for cocaine charges. Barber will now be released from prison in 2025.
These are just five of the 774 individuals who have had their sentences commuted by President Obama.