/Obama grants clemency to four Mississippians

Obama grants clemency to four Mississippians

Obama pardoned 78 people on Monday and commuted sentences for 153 others, making it the largest single-day pardons by an American president. Obama has granted more commutations that 11 of his predecessors. Many of them involved drug-related offences. President Trump has stated that he would like to bring current sentences for inmates closer to current laws. These are more relaxed than the strict mandatory minimum sentences used in previous non-violent drug offenses. The White House granted Mississippians clemency. * Tietti Onette Chandler (formerly Tietti Shelton) is the only Mississippian to have received a pardon. Chandler was convicted by a postal worker of embezzlement and sentenced to three-years probation. He also had to complete 150 hours community service in 1999. Peter Christian Boulette, Hattiesburg, was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment. Boulette was convicted of possession with intent of distribution of 50 grams or more methamphetamine, possession with intent of distribution of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and possession with intent of distribution (two counts), possession with intent of distributing a mixture and substance (two counts); felon possession of firearms (two counts); all of these offenses occurred in the Northern District. Malcolm Hartzog, of Prentiss, had his sentence reduced to a term 144 months imprisonment upon the condition that he enrolls in residential drug treatment. Hartzog was charged in connection with the conspiracy to possess with intent and distribute a controlled drug. * Stanley Knox of Blue Mountain was sentenced to 191 months imprisonment. He had to enroll in a residential drug rehabilitation program. He was charged with continuing criminal enterprise, distribution and possession of cocaine bases; use of communication facilities to facilitate distribution of cocaine (seven charges); attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine (two count); distribution of cocaine within 1,000 feet from a high school (two count); and use of communication facilities to facilitate the attempted distribution (two counts).