President Barack Obama on Wednesday commuted sentences for more than 200 federal inmates convicted on drug offenses, a group that included four Michiganders – two of whom were facing life imprisonment.
Advertisement
All told, Obama has commuted 562 sentences during his presidency – more than the past nine presidents combined, the White House said.
Criminal justice reform has become a major focal point in the presidential election, and Mr Obama has on several occasions reduced the sentences of thousands of non-violent inmates in the USA prison system.
The White House released a statement that the majority of Obama’s commutations were for people “incarcerated under outdated sentencing laws”.
Dennis was sentenced in 2005 to 25 years in prison and eight years of supervised released for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The White House said Obama had forgiven a fresh group of prisoners, including 67 who had been serving life sentences.
“For years prior to this administration, federal prosecutors were not only encouraged but required to always seek the most severe prison sentence possible for all drug cases, no matter what risk they posed to public safety”.
Christopher J. Heath, of Ridgway, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2006 for conspiracy to manufacture more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
The sentences for Bell, Candelario and Reyes are now set to expire on December 1.
Both will see their sentences end December 1.
Advertisement
Among the federal prisoners whose sentences were shortened are six men from South Florida.
