Obama Shortens Sentence Of Drug Convict From Aberdeen

In a historic move, President Barack Obama commuted 214 federal sentences on Wednesday, marking the most commutations directed in a single day by a US president in the last hundred years, BuzzFeed News reports.

Five Philadelphia-area men are among 214 individuals who had their sentences cut short Wednesday by President Barack Obama.

Greeneville’s Steve P. Gillespie is serving a almost 22 year sentence for a 2006 intent to distribute cocaine base charge.

President Barack Obama used his executive power to commute the sentences of 214 federal prisoners on Wednesday, August 3. Obama has now commuted the sentences of 562 people, more than any other president. Obama, who leaves office in January, said Wednesday he will continue to commute prison terms for inmates he believes are serving unjustly lengthy sentences for nonviolent crimes. For others, it will take much longer: theHuffington Post highlights an individual who was sentenced to life in 2009 for intent to distribute large quantities of marijuana and will now be serving a measly 30-year bid.

-Billy Whitehead of North Little Rock, who was sentenced in the Eastern District of Arkansas to 20 years and 10 years of supervised release for distribution of cocaine base.

While most former USA presidents have utilized their executive authority to shorten federal prison sentences and/or issue pardons toward the end of their terms, President Barack Obama handed out literally hundreds since the beginning of his presidency.

Gargano was sentenced to 20 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release on November 20, 2004 for conspiracy to distribute methylenedioxymethamphetamine and ketamine, and distributing and possessing with intent to distribute ecstasy. Evans was originally sentenced to life in prison for his role in a small drug distribution ring.

While his record of commutations puts US presidents from the last hundred-odd years to shame, law professors say they’re still not enough, considering Obama’s own outline for getting nonviolent offenders out of prison.

“Today’s historic announcement is yet another step in the administration’s efforts to restore proportionality to unnecessarily long drug sentences”, DOJ Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates said in a statement. According to Neil Eggleston, the White House counsel, only legislation can provide the lasting reform that the criminal justice system needs.

Four Metro Detroit men serving time for drug convictions are among 214 people whose federal sentences have been commuted.