President Barack Obama granted commutation of sentences to 42 individuals.

 

President Barack Obama granted commutation of sentences to 42 individuals.

The President commuted the sentences of the following 42 individuals:

·         Eric E. Alvarez – New York, NY

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (crack); conspiracy to commit money laundering; Eastern District of North Carolina

Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (April 18, 2000)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Dale Baldwin – Largo, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (three counts); Middle District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (June 28, 1995)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Delaine F. Berg – Imboden, AR
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release  (May 26, 1998)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Phillip Blackwood – Ridgewood, NY
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; distribution and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; Eastern District of New York
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (November 21, 2008)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Wilhemina Bryan – Orlando, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to import five kilograms or more of cocaine; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (May 21, 2001)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Charrell Franklin Burrage – Davenport, IA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute; possession of firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: 300 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (November 29, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Christopher Shawn Collier – Midland, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of methamphetamine; Western District of Texas
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (May 10, 2002)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on June 3, 2018.

·         Richard Eugene Dains – Porter, TX
Offense: Did conspire to manufacture methamphetamine; did knowingly and unlawfully possess in and affecting commerce, a firearm and prior thereto the defendant had been convicted in a court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year; did knowingly use and carry a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime for which the defendant may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, namely, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; Eastern District of Texas
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (October 16, 1992)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Douglas Ray Dunkins, Jr. – Fort Worth, TX
Offense: Conspiracy; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years' supervised release (January 20, 1993)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Ronald Gregory Farah – Boca Raton, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to import marijuana into the United States; importation of marijuana into the United States; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (April 30, 1997)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Joe Mack Flowers – St. Petersburg, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of "crack" cocaine; possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of "crack" cocaine; possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense; convicted felon in possession of a firearm; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: Life plus 60 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (July 1, 1991)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Ronald Glinton – Boynton Beach, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture and possess with intent to distribute cocaine; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession of cocaine with intent to manufacture cocaine base; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (April 2, 1993)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Gregory E. Graham – Denver, CO
Offense: Distribution of cocaine base; District of Wyoming
Sentence: 300 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release; $1,000 fine (November 1, 2005)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Teresa Mechell Griffin – Orlando, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess cocaine powder and/or cocaine base with intent to distribute; unlawful travel in interstate commerce with the intent to promote, manage, establish, carry on, or facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, and carrying on of unlawful activity; distribution of one kilogram of cocaine (two counts); Western District of Oklahoma
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years' supervised release (May 6, 1994)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Larry Roscoe Gunnell, Jr. – Hightown, NJ
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute crack and aiding and abetting; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (July 8, 1999)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Marvin Hampton – Orangeburg, SC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; knowingly using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 180 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (November 28, 2006)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Cedric Jarreau Hawkins – Chicago, IL
Offense: Distribution of 5.4 grams of cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a protected location after two or more prior felony drug convictions; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release  (February 1, 2008)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on June 3, 2018.

·         Cleon Jermaine Hawkins – Baker, LA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Middle District of Louisiana
Sentence: 180 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (June 5, 2008)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Bennit Hayes – Jonesboro, GA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and five grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release; $800 fine (February 6, 2003)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Patrick Henderson – Beloit, WI
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; Western District of Wisconsin
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (April 13, 1998); amended to 292 months' imprisonment (March 16, 2015)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on June 3, 2018.

·         Tony Jones – Tallahassee, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts); Northern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (May 16, 1997)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on June 3, 2018.

·         Everette Bryant Law – Roanoke, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute or to distribute crack cocaine, to distribute crack cocaine with intent of carrying on unlawful activity, distribute cocaine with intent of concealing proceeds of unlawful activity; distribute crack cocaine, aid and abet (three counts); false financial transactions to conceal proceeds of drug trafficking crime; Western District of Virginia
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (March 25, 1994)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Gary Allen Lott – Oklahoma City, OK
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine (two counts); maintaining a residence to manufacture methamphetamine (three counts); possession of chemicals with intent to manufacture methamphetamine; use of a firearm in relation to drug trafficking crime; Western District of Oklahoma
Sentence: Life plus five years' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (April 5, 2000)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on June 3, 2018.

·         Kareem Martin – River Rouge, MI
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Michigan
Sentence: 276 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (January 18, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on June 3, 2018.

·         Nolan McSwain – Altadena, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Central District of California
Sentence: Life imprisonment (December 6, 1993)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on June 3, 2017.

·         Sherman Ray Meirovitz – Minneapolis, MN
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine; conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; District of Minnesota
Sentence: Life imprisonment  (January 5, 1990)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on June 3, 2017.

·         Darran Lamar Moore – Miami, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (March 22, 2005)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Robert Pettway – Pensacola, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release; $1,000 fine (August 31, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Patrick Kit Plumlee – Newport News, VA
Offense: Continuing criminal enterprise; distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base (eight counts); use of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime; renting, leasing, and making premises available for storing and distributing cocaine and cocaine base; money laundering and conspiracy (10 counts); Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: Life plus 60 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release (July 18, 1994); amended to 420 months' imprisonment (January 6, 2016)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Shawn Antonio Pressley  – Greensboro, NC
Offense: Possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack); carry a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Middle District of North Carolina
Sentence: 322 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release  (January 23, 1998)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Anthony Walter Puig – Land O'Lakes, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (December 18, 2002)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Emlera Quince  – Knoxville, TN
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts); Eastern District of Tennessee
Sentence: 300 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (June 30, 1997)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Jesus Ruiz – Kennedale, TX
Offense:         1. Conspiracy to distribute marijuana; Western District of New York;

2. Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to export marijuana; Western District of New York

Sentence:        1. 92 months' imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (July 12, 1993); 

2. 360 months' imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (April 17, 1998)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentences commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Garrie Lavert Samuels – Groveport, OH
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base; aiding and abetting distribution of more than 50 grams of cocaine base; aiding and abetting distribution of more than five grams of cocaine base; Western District of Texas
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (April 8, 2003)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Robert Lewis Sleepers, III – South Bend, IN
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; conspiracy to commit money laundering; Northern District of Indiana
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (June 18, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Almos L. Starks – Jacksonville, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine; possess with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of cocaine base; possession of firearms by a convicted felon; Southern District of Ohio
Sentence: Life imprisonment; six years' supervised release; $20,000 fine (October 5, 1995)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016, and unpaid balance of the fine remitted.

·         Phillip Maurice Thomas – Vero Beach, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute at least five grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute at least 500 grams or more of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing MDMA or Ecstasy; possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing marijuana; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: 292 months' imprisonment; eight years' supervised release (April 8, 2005)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Shane William Tuttle – Great Falls, MT
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute (three counts); use of a firearm during drug trafficking offense (two counts); illegal use of communication facility (two counts); possession with intent to distribute cocaine; District of Montana
Sentence: 360 months' imprisonment; four years' supervised release (September 14, 1994)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Craig L. Watson – Jacksonville, AR
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine; distribution of cocaine; attempt to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Arkansas
Sentence: 276 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (July 10, 2006); amended to 240 months' imprisonment (December 15, 2011)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Lawrence McArthur Webb – Salem, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base and more than five kilograms of cocaine powder; distribution of cocaine (two counts); Western District of Virginia
Sentence: 240 months' imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release (June 4, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Danny Ray White – Garland, TX
Offense: Attempt to manufacture and manufacture of methamphetamine; attempt to manufacture and manufacture of amphetamine; possession of a three-neck round-bottom flask; possession of a listed chemical, Ethyl Ether; Eastern District of Texas
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years' supervised release; $11,000 fine (July 19, 1996)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on October 1, 2016.

·         Julian L. Wyre – Chicago, IL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Northern District of Illinois
Sentence: 204 months' imprisonment; five years' supervised release; $250 fine (November 6, 2008)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on June 3, 2018.

The Facts About Trump University

documents from a fraud lawsuit against Trump University were made public -- so we’d like to take you through some of the top lines.

In theory, Trump University was an educational course that would teach customers how to be successful real estate investors.

In reality, it was a marketing scam -- or as one former employee put it in a newly-public testimony, a “fraudulent scheme” that “preyed upon the elderly and uneducated to separate them from their money.” 

This is complicated, so let’s take a look at it point-by-point:

• When Trump University was founded in 2005, Donald attached his name -- and his money -- whole-heartedly. He featured prominently in ads offering customers the chance to follow his path to unspecified wealth. “He had very good and substantive input,” the former Trump University president said of Trump in 2012. Trump University was seriously Trump’s University.
• The institution existed to swindle money from people and benefit Trump’s bottom line -- up to $35,000 at a time. In the testimony just made public, one Trump University sales manager recounted an instance in which he tried to advise a pair of potential customers away from purchasing an expensive package of seminars when he learned that they were financially unstable and would be using a combination of disability payments and a high-interest loan to cover the cost.



• The internal company manuals, referred to as “playbooks”, instructed employees to collect sensitive personal information about potential customers, such as “are they a single parent of three children that may need money for food? Or are they a middle-aged commuter that is tired of traveling for 2 hours to work each day?” -- and then use that information to sell them on an expensive program.
• All these documents make it clear that Trump University specifically targeted and preyed upon people who could least afford it, and Donald Trump made money on the whole endeavor.

At this point, it's obvious that this kind of scam is a big part of how Donald Trump made how ever much money he has. It's part of a pattern. And as this campaign unfolds, I suspect we're going to see more and more examples to prove this point. 






Source: The Briefing 

The Endorsement Game

The 2016 Endorsement Breakdown

CANDIDATE

Elected Officials (#): Govs, Senators, Reps

National Organizations & Labor

Celebrities

 

REPUBLICANS

DONALD TRUMP

Governors (17), Senators (13), Representatives (40) International: Kim Jong-Un (N.Korea)

National Labor: National Border Patrol Council Orgs: Republican Jewish Coalition, National Rifle Association, Rent is Too Damn High Party

Ann Coulter, Brian France NASCAR, Carl Icahn, Gary Busey, Hulk Hogan, Jon Voight, Sarah Palin, Steve Forbes, Steve Wynn, Tom Brady, Willie Robertson, Sean Hannity, Curt Schilling, Stacey Dash, Dean Cain, Fred Williamson, George Brett, Woody Johnson

 

DEMOCRATS

HILLARY CLINTON	Governors (18), Senators (41), Representatives (173)	National Labor: AFSCME, AFGE, AFT, Heat Frost Insulators, IATSE, IFPTE, ILA, Ironworkers, Machinists, OPEIU, OPCMIA, Operating Engineers, Painters, Bricklayers, Laborers, NEA, NTEU, N.Am Building Trades, SEIU, Seafarers, Sheetmetal, Carpenters, Plumbers & Pipefitters, UAW, Farm Workers, Roofers, UFCW. Orgs: Congressional Black Caucus, ANA, Brady Campaign, EMILY'sList, Feminist Majority, Human Rights Campaign, JACPAC, LCV, LPAC, NARAL, NOW, Planned Parenthood, US Hispanic and US Women's Chamber Commerce	George Clooney, Katy Perry, Beyonce, Lena Dunham, Kerry Washington, Ja Rule, Robert De Niro, Kim Kardashian, Magic Johnson, Pharrell, Salma Hayek, Steven Speilberg, Tim Gunn, Howard Stern, Chris Rock, Lisa Rinna, Zachary Quinto, Anthony Rannells, Amy Schumer
BERNIE SANDERS	Governors (0), Senators (1), Representatives (9)	National Labor: APWU, ATU, ILWU, Communication Workers, National Nurses United, NUHW, UE Orgs: MoveOn.org, Democracy for America, Democratic Socialist of America, Working Families Party, Friends of the Earth, Progressive Democrats of America, Armenian National Committee of America, Americans for Democratic Action, Occupy Wall Street, Working Families Party, Peace Action	Susan Sarandon, Spike Lee, , Willie Nelson, Daniel Craig, Shepard Fairey, Mark Ruffalo, Kareen Abdul Jabbar, Neil Young, John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jeremy Piven, Killer Mike, Kal Penn, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Will Arnett, Roseanne Barr

Endorsement lists are not complete. Sources: P2016, AMNewYork, Wikipedia

Hillary Clinton Kicks Off Five Days of California Campaigning

After delivering her major foreign policy speech in San Diego, Clinton continued her campaign in California by speaking at a Get Out the Vote rally in El Centro. During her speech, Clinton praised the area's agricultural economy and spoke about her plans for comprehensive immigration reform in addition to a number of her platform points including continuing to expand health care and her vow to work with Republicans who are willing to work with her

Trump’s vendetta against federal judge alarms legal experts

Jason Szenes / EPA

Trump’s vendetta against federal judge alarms legal experts

Some worry that the presumptive GOP nominee’s personal, racially tinged attacks and his suggestion of taking action against the judge overseeing lawsuits against him indicate a remarkable disregard for judicial independence.

By Jose A. DelReal and Katie Zezima  •  Read more »

Sanders ratchets up attacks on Democrats

Bernie Sanders is at war with some of the biggest liberal icons of the Democratic party, including former U.S. Congressman Barney Frank. Frank faces off with Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver on Hardball.

Hillary Clinton Campaigns in New Jersey

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a campaign rally, June 1, 2016, in Newark, New Jersey. Next to Clinton is musician Jon Bon Jovi. / AFP / DOMINICK REUTER (Photo credit should read DOMINICK REUTER/AFP/Getty Images) On Wednesday, Hillary Clinton returned to the campaign trail where she attended a Get Out the Vote event in Newark, New Jersey. After Clinton was introduced by Senator Cory Booker and singer Jon Bon Jovi, Clinton spoke to the crowd about about a number of her key platform points and the importance of the 2016 election. At the beginning of her speech, she attacked presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump and his controversial Trump University, which is currently in the midst of a legal battle. Clinton said, "Trump U was a fraudulent scheme where Donald Trump enriched himself at the expense of hard working people. Trump himself is a fraud." A full video from the event is below. Clinton then traveled to Boston, Massachusetts where she attended a fundraiser. The event included a special performance by Bon Jovi. News Source: CBS New York