Obama cuts short sentences of 111 inmates, 14 from NC
WASHINGTON (WTVD) -- President Barack Obama has cut short the sentences of 111 federal inmates, including a Garner man and 13 others from North Carolina in another round of commutations for those convicted of nonviolent drug offenses
Obama has long called for phasing out strict sentences for drug offenses, arguing they lead to excessive punishment and incarceration rates unseen in other developed countries.
White House Counsel Neil Eggleston says the commutations underscore the president's commitment to using his clemency authority to give deserving individuals a second chance.
He says that Obama has granted a total of 673 commutations, more than the previous 10 presidents combined. More than a third of the recipients were serving life sentences.
Eggleston says he expects Obama to continue granting commutations through the end of his administration, but only legislation can ensure the federal sentencing system operates more fairly.
The complete list of inmates from NC who had their sentences commuted (in alphabetical order):
Michael Alexander - Charlotte, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (October 23, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 28, 2016.
Tremayne Kendrick Blackwell - Charlotte, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (February 18, 2009); amended to 240 months' imprisonment (November 3, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months' imprisonment.
Jerome Lee Borders - Statesville, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; conspiracy to commit money laundering; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years' supervised release (May 6, 2002)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months' imprisonment.
Walter Breland - Statesville, NC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine base; possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm; Southern District of Indiana
Sentence: 420 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (February 12, 2003)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months' imprisonment.
Jessee Dane Cox - Crumpler, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess methamphetamine; Western District of Virginia
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (May 26, 2009)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 30, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
Robert Anthony Eberhart - Garner, NC
Offense: Distribution of cocaine base; possession of a firearm during drug trafficking; Middle District of North Carolina
Sentence: 468 months' imprisonment, five years' supervised release (February 1, 2005); amended to 420 months' imprisonment (November 28, 2012)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months' imprisonment.
Monroe Herring - Greensboro, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (March 26, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 28, 2016.
Michael Freeman Lattimore - Lawndale, NC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (March 30, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 28, 2016.
Gary L. Lynch - Rocky Mount, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack) and cocaine; Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release; $1,200 restitution (April 30, 2001)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 28, 2016.
Victor Eugene Mason - Washington, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of five kilograms or more of cocaine; District of South Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (September 11, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 28, 2016.
London Archie McRae - West End, NC
Offense: Possessed with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack); Middle District of North Carolina
Sentence: 280 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (May 29, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 28, 2016.
James Clinton Patterson, Jr. - Concord, NC
Offense: Possessed with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack); Middle District of North Carolina
Sentence: 262 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (February 12, 2002)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 28, 2016.
Martez Lamont Sherrod - Greenville, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base and more than 500 grams of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (October 12, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 28, 2016.
Patrick Willard - Greensboro, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Kentucky
Sentence: 327 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (January 8, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 30, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.
