Ten Georgians were granted commutations Wednesday after serving lengthy sentences for drug offences.
President Barack Obama commuted sentences for 214 people serving time for federal drug charges. Obama has granted 562 commutations to date, more than any president, White House Counsel to the President Neil Eggleston said in The White House blog.
“In each of these cases, the President examines the application on its individual merits,” Eggleston said. “As a result, the relief afforded is tailored specifically to each applicant’s case. While some commutation recipients will begin to process out of federal custody immediately, others will serve more time.”
Three of the Georgians – James Oliver Fambro, J.B. Farris, Jr. and James LaRon Knight — are from the metro Atlanta area. The men will be released December 1.
Last year two Georgians had their sentences commuted. Bruce Todd, of Atlanta, and Katina Stuckey Smith, of Montrose, will be released November 10. Todd was sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison in 2003. Smith was sentenced to more than 24 years in prison in 2000.
Smith is the mother of Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. His grandmother, Minnie Pearl Thomas, will have her sentence commuted Dec. 1.
Here are the nine Georgians whose sentences were commuted:
Sidney J. Ball, Lenox
Ball was arrested for possession with intent to distribute 12.04 kilograms of cocaine. He was sentenced to 240 months in prison with 10 years on supervised release in January 2003. His sentence expires Dec. 1.
Lucius Boswell, Madison
Boswell was arrested on conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to life in prison with 10 years supervised release in December 1997. His sentence expires Dec. 1.
Eddie Lee Brown, Brunswick
Brown was arrested on two counts of distribution of cocaine and was sentenced to 262 months in prison with six years on supervised release in June 2000. His sentence expires Dec. 1.
James Oliver Fambro, Decatur
Fambro was arrested for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine. He was also arrested for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine. Brown also had a two firearm charges. He was sentenced to 300 months in prison with 10 years of supervised release and a $500 fine in 2006. His sentence expires Dec. 1.
J. B. Farris, Jr., Atlanta
Farris was arrested for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. He was sentenced to 360 months in prison with 10 years supervised release on January 1993. His sentence expires Dec. 1.
Christopher Green – Waycross
Green was arrested for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to life in prison in December 1997. His sentence expires Aug. 3, 2017.
Milton Kemp, Jewell
Kemp was arrested for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine. He was also arrested for distribution of cocaine. Kemp was sentenced to 280 months in prison with 10 years of supervised release in April 2000. His sentence expires Dec. 1.
James LaRon Knight, Jonesboro
Knight was arrested for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced to 292 months in prison with five years of supervised release in November 2004. Knight’s sentence expires Dec. 1.
Ronald Perry Moon, Commerce
Moon was arrested for possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced to life in prison with 10 years of supervised release and a $2,000 fine in February 2006. Moon’s sentence expires Dec. 1 and he won’t have to pay the $2,000 fine.
Minnie Pearl Thomas, Allentown
Thomas was arrested for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He was also arrested for distribution of cocaine. Moon was sentenced to life in prison with 10 years of supervised release in July 2000. His sentence expires Dec. 1.
About the Author
