Obama grants 2 Georgians clemency on drug charges

President Barack Obama on Thursday granted clemency to 21 individuals, including two people from Georgia.

William Ricardo Alvarez, of Marietta, was one of 13 to receive presidential pardons, the White House announced. Alvarez was sentenced to nine months in prison followed by four years of probation in 1997 after his conviction on drug charges.

Alvarez was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and conspiracy to import heroin.

Helen Alexander Gray, of Ty Ty in Tift County, was one of eight people granted commutations. Gray was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and sentenced to 240 months, or 20 years, in prison on April 19, 1996.

The White House said Thursday that Gray’s prison sentence will expire on April 17.

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